Season 1 • Episode 20
LatestYong gets a close encounter with the king, but manages to escape. The whole plan is complete, and he only has his personal mission left, finding the sword and the man who killed his father. His partners in crime leave him alone in the palace. After going through many traps, he finally finds out that it is none other than the king who killed his father. Shi Hoo finds the message in blood that was to be given to Yong, and he finally remembers Geom and his own father, Lee Won Ho. He helps Iljimae fighting the guards back so that he can go find the king in his hide-out. ...
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, Ryung acts as a useless gangster in the marketplace by day but at night he is a chivalrous robber who robs corrupt government officials to give to the poor. After each robbery he leaves behind a wooden branch from a plum tree at the site of the robbery to take responsibility for the robbery. The poor citizens only know him as Iljimae. Bong Soon is a hilarious girl with good martial art skills and lives as a swindler. She only loves Ryung and sacrifices her whole life for him. Eun Chae is a government official's daughter and is good in nature and usually helps miserable people. She meets Iljimae once by chance, and their sweet love story begins. However, her love puts Iljimae in a dangerous situation because an Imperial Guard also loves her.
Acting
Lee Joon-gi's dual performance: bumbling fool vs. smoldering vigilante
Costume
Iljimae's black hanbok and mask — iconic K-drama visual legacy
Writing
Bong Soon's tragic devotion subverts the plucky sidekick trope
Lee Joon-gi
Geom / Yong / Iljimae
Han Hyo-joo
Byun Eun Chae
Park Si-hoo
Shi Hoo / Ja Dol
Lee Young-ah
Bong Soon
Kim Sung-ryung
Dani
An Kil-kang
Kongkal A Je
Kim Chang-wan
King Do Po Hui
Lee Won-jong
Byeon Sik
Yeo Jin-goo
Lee Gyeom (young)
Kim Yoo-jung
Eun Chae (young)
David Lee
Cha-dol / Shi-hoo (young)
Jung Da-bin
Bong Soon (young)
Lee Il-hwa
Lady Han
Noh Young-hak
Soo-mak
Yeon Jun-seok
Han-woo
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Lee Joon-gi performed most of his own stunts, training in martial arts for months and suffering multiple injuries on set.
The series sparked 'Iljimae syndrome' in 2008, with the plum blossom symbol appearing in fashion and merchandise across Korea — though ratings were modest, its cultural footprint outlasted bigger hits.
KR
