Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People () is a South Korean television series starring Yoon Kyun-sang, Chae Soo-bin, Kim Ji-seok, Lee Hanee, and Kim Sang-joong. It aired on MBC TV every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST) from January 30, 2017 to May 16, 2017.
The series was a success with average viewership ratings of 11.34%, and was praised by both critics and audiences for its plot and performances.
Synopsis
Set during the reign of famous tyrant King Yeonsangun, it tells the story of Hong Gil-dong, the son of a servant who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and his journey in becoming Joseon's first revolutionary activist.
Hong Gil Dong (Yoon Kyun-sang) is the son of servant Hong Ah Mo Gae, which gives Gil Dong no legal standing in Joseon society. With no opportunities to do any legitimate work despite his brilliance, Gil Dong becomes the leader of a band of smugglers who steals from the rich to give to the poor. Gil Dong's contemporary, Yi Yung, becomes the tyrannical King Yeonsangun (Kim Ji-seok) who oppresses the lives of the common people. The king's faithful consort is Jang Nok-su (Lee Hanee), who secretly can't forget her first love, Gil Dong.
Cast
Main
Yoon Kyun-sang as Hong Gil-dong
Lee Ro-woon as young Hong Gil-dong
Chae Soo-bin as Song Ga-ryung
Gil-dong's love interest and later wife. Vehid Abdullahi as Depp Kj Paman Kim Sang-joong as Hong Ah Mo-gae Gil-dong's father. A brilliant and ambitious slave who frees himself and later becomes the leader of the Ilkhwari. Kim Ji-suk as Crown Prince Lee Yoong (later King Yeonsan) Lee Hanee as Gong-hwa (later renamed to Jang Nok-soo) Yeonsangun's consort and Gil-dong's first love.
Supporting
Hong Family
Shim Hee-sub as Hong Gil-hyun / Park Ha-sung
Lee Do-hyun as young Hong Gil-hyun
Mo-gae's eldest son and Gil-dong's older brother. Shin Eun-jung as Geum-ok Ah Mo Gae's wife and Gil-dong's mother. Lee Soo-min as Hong Uh Ri-ni / Sang-hwa Jeong Soo-in as young Hong Uh Ri-ni Mo-gae's youngest daughter and Gil-dong's younger sister.
Ilkhwari
Park Jun-gyu as Hong So Boo-ri
Lee Jun-hyeok as Hong Yong-gae
Kim Do-yoon as Hong Se-gul
Heo Jung-do as Hong Il-chung
Lee Ho-chul as Hong Kkeut-shwe
Kim Byung-chun as Soo Noh Man-sub
Lee Myung-hoon as Hong Eob-san
Jo Hyun-do as young Eob-san
Kim Ha-eun as Jeok Sun-ah
Royal Court
Kim Jung-tae as Prince Choongwongun / Lee Jung
Choi Moo-sung as King Seongjong
Park Soo-young as Kim Ja-won
Ahn Suk-hwan as First Vice-Premier Noh Sa-shin
Ryu Tae-ho as Yu Ja-gwang
Choi Yong-min as Yoon Pil-sang
Park Ji-il as Lee Se-jwa
Choi Dae-chul as Park Won-jong
Others
Kim Byeong-ok as Magistrate Uhm Ja-chi
A third-generation magistrate secretary. He later becomes a town magistrate with the help of Mo-gae. Hwang Seok-jeong as Wol Ha-mae Kim Joon-bae as Heo Tae-hak A thug and Ah Mo-gae's rival. Kim Jung-hyun as Mo Ri Heo Tae-hak's right-hand man, later a rival of Gil-dong Ahn Nae-sang as Song Do-hwan Seo Yi-sook as Lady Jo, Jo Cham-bong's wife. Park Eun-seok as Jo Soo-hak, Jo Cham-bong's son. Kim Ye-jun as young Jo Soo-hak Song Sam-dong as Lee Uk-gong Jung Da-bin as Ok Ran Lee Do-gyeom as Do-ho Park Ji-a as Jin-soo Lee Chung-mi as Han-deok Kim Hee-jung as Baek Kyun Kang Hui as Yeong-hui Cha Geon-woo Shim Eun-woo as a Shaman
Special appearances
Son Jong-hak as Lord Jo Cham-bong
Ko In-bum as Lord Jo's uncle
Moon Sook
Production
Actors Nam Goong Min and Ji Sung were first offered the lead role but later got replaced by Yoon Kyun-sang. The first script reading took place on 30 December 2016 at MBC Broadcasting Station in Sangam. The drama reunited Yoon Kyun-sang and Chae Soo-bin after both starred in the Uniqnote feat. Bobby Kim and Jung Yup for Girlfriend in 2014
Ratings
In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. NR denotes that the drama did not rank in the top 20 daily programs on that date
Episode 28 did not air on May 2 due to the broadcast of a presidential debate. Episode 29 did not air on May 9 due to news coverage of the presidential election.