The Story of Hong Gil-dong – SRS Cinema (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: South Korea, 1967
Director: Shin Dong-heon
Writer: Dong-woo Shin
Cast: Kim Soo-Il

Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 66 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono Korean
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $14.95

"Adapted from "Hong Gildong Jeon," a classic Korean novel written during the Joseon Dynasty, "The Story of Hong Gil-dong" follows the illegitimate son of a nobleman, banished from his family due to the predictions of a fake prophecy. Out of his home, Hong Gil-dong witnesses firsthand the injustices of society. Along with his sidekick Chadol Bawi, the pair steal from a corrupt magistrate and return the money to the poor. But when the magistrate brings in more forces, Hong Gil-dong must retreat to the mountains and train under a wise wizard. His sanity is put to the test through strange hallucinations and vigorous training, but years later he emerges to rally the local rebels in an attempt to unseat the corrupt aristocrats. But with the magistrate having grown even more powerful, will Hong Gil-dong and his band of merry men be able to save his father and all of Korea?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This film has not been seen for a long time in Korea because the original film was missed, but the Japan release edition was found in 2008 by the Korean Film Archive. It was digitally restored in 4K by the Korean Film Archive and the Image Power Station in 2021.

The picture used the 16mm dupe negative film, but there only exists the Japanese version of the title and opening credit sequence; the Korean version credits were newly made and included in the opening scene. The sound used for the restoration was the 35mm negative and print film.”

The Story of Hong Gil-dong comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 17.9 GB

Feature: 16.8 GB

Considering the source's limitations, things look better than expected, and any imperfections are kept to a minimum. Colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono Korean with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a newly created trailer (59 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in English), a text-based extra titled Hong Gil-Dong: The History Behind Korea's Old Fable written by Eugene Alejandro, and trailers for other films released by SRS Cinema.

Summary:

The Story of Hong Gil-dong was adapted from Hong Gildong Jeon, a Korean novel written during the Joseon Dynasty. The Story of Hong Gil-dong has historical significance; it was Korea’s first animated feature film.

The illegitimate son of a nobleman is banished by his father, who believes a prophecy about his son told to him by someone who benefits from his son's departure. Now on his own, the son becomes a hero for taking on corrupt government officials who have been oppressing the poor. After several failed attempts to get rid of him, his enemies lure him into a trap by capturing his father and mother.

The premise is your archetypal hero's journey story. The narrative revolves around a protagonist named Hong Gil-dong, whose life changes overnight when someone plots his demise for personal gain. Instead of retreating into a normal life and never being heard from again, he becomes determined to help those being exploited and harmed by evildoers. And like all heroic journeys, he faces a series of deadly obstacles before the moment arrives where he can right what has been done to him.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job establishing characters and their motivations. The narrative is well-constructed; it does an excellent job building momentum, and there is a perfect balance of exposition and moments of danger. Hong Gil-dong is an exceptional fighter who, over the course of the narrative, continues to hone his fighting skills. When it comes to the fight sequences, they are imaginative and, in some instances, inject some humor.

The Story of Hong Gil-dong’s animation is a product of the period from which it was made, the 1960s. Although this style of animation feels oversimplified by today's standards, it works well with the story that unfolds. Ultimately, The Story of Hong Gil-dong is a fast-paced fantasy film that fans of magical realism should thoroughly enjoy.

SRS Cinema gives The Story of Hong Gil-dong its best home media release to date; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer