The Rebel (South Korean TV series)

The Rebel^[1][2] (Korean: 역적: 백성을 훔친 도적; lit. 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.^[3][4]

The Rebel
Promotional poster
Hangul	역적: 백성을 훔친 도적
RR	Yeokjeok: baekseongeul humchin dojeok
MR	Yŏkchŏk: paeksŏngŭl humch'in tojŏk
Genre	Historical Melodrama Romance
Created by	Lee Ju-hwan
Written by	Hwang Jin-young
Directed by	Kim Jin-man
Starring	Yoon Kyun-sang Chae Soo-bin Kim Sang-joong Kim Ji-suk Lee Hanee
Music by	Kim Soo-han
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	30
Production
Executive producer	Lee Young-hoon
Producer	Namkoong Sung-woo
Production location	South Korea
Running time	60 minutes
Production companies	Hunus Entertainment Hong Gil-dong SPC
Original release
Network	MBC TV
Release	January 30 (2017-01-30) – May 16, 2017 (2017-05-16)

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.^[5][6][7]

Synopsis

Set during the reign of famous tyrant Yeonsangun, it tells the story of Hong Gil-dong, the son of a slave who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and his journey in becoming Joseon's first revolutionary.

Hong Gil-dong (Yoon Kyun-sang) is the son of slave 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 Yeonsangun (Kim Ji-seok) who oppresses the lives of the common people. The King's faithful concubine 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^[8]
  • Lee Ro-woon as young Hong Gil-dong
• Chae Soo-bin as Song Ga-ryung^[9]

Gil-dong's love interest and later wife.

• Kim Sang-joong as Hong Ah-mo-gae^[10]

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 Yi Yung (later Yeonsangun)^[11]
• Lee Hanee as Gong-hwa (later renamed to Jang Nok-su)^[12]

Yeonsangun's concubine 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

Ah-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

Ah-mo-gae's daughter and Gil-dong's younger sister.

Ilkhwari

• Park Jun-gyu as Hong So-bu-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^[13]
• 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 Yi Jung, Prince Chungwon
• Choi Moo-sung as King Seongjong
• Park Soo-young as Kim Ja-won
• Ahn Suk-hwan as Left State Councillor Noh Sa-shin
• Ryu Tae-ho as Yu Ja-gwang
• Choi Yong-min as Yun Pil-sang
• Park Ji-il as Yi Se-jwa
• Choi Dae-chul as Park Won-jong

Others

• Kim Byeong-ok as Magistrate Uhm Ja-chi

A third-generation deputy magistrate. He later becomes a town magistrate with the help of Ah-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
  • Kim Ye-jun as young Jo Soo-hak

Jo Cham-bong's son.

• 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 shaman

Special appearances

• Son Jong-hak as Jo Cham-bong
• Ko In-bum as Jo Cham-bong's uncle
• Moon Sook

Production

• Actors Namkoong Min and Ji Sung were first offered the lead role.
• The first script reading took place on December 30, 2016 at MBC Broadcasting Station in Sangam.^[14][15]

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 #	Date	Average audience share
		TNmS Ratings		AGB Nielsen Ratings[16]
		Nationwide	Seoul National Capital Area	Nationwide	Seoul National Capital Area	Peak
1	January 30, 2017	8.3% (20th)	8.2% (17th)	8.9% (NR)	9.1% (16th)	11.0%
2	January 31, 2017	8.4% (17th)	9.3% (8th)	10.0% (8th)	10.2% (6th)	12.1%
3	February 6, 2017	9.9% (12th)	11.3% (5th)	10.5% (7th)	10.8% (5th)	13.3%
4	February 7, 2017	11.4% (7th)	12.5% (5th)	12.3% (5th)	12.3% (5th)	14.5%
5	February 13, 2017	9.8% (11th)	11.8% (5th)	10.7% (7th)	10.9% (6th)	12.9%
6	February 14, 2017	9.1% (10th)	10.9% (5th)	10.6% (8th)	11.1% (5th)	12.9%
7	February 20, 2017	9.4% (10th)	11.4% (5th)	11.4% (5th)	11.9% (5th)	13.3%
8	February 21, 2017	9.4% (9th)	10.9% (5th)	11.5% (5th)	12.1% (5th)	14.0%
9	February 27, 2017	10.6% (7th)	11.7% (5th)	11.7% (5th)	12.0% (5th)	14.3%
10	February 28, 2017	11.4% (7th)	11.9% (5th)	12.5% (5th)	13.4% (5th)	15.2%
11	March 6, 2017	8.9% (12th)	10.0% (5th)	10.3% (8th)	10.6% (6th)	12.1%
12	March 7, 2017	9.5% (11th)	10.5% (6th)	10.5% (7th)	10.5% (5th)	12.0%
13	March 13, 2017	9.8% (10th)	10.5% (6th)	10.6% (7th)	10.5% (5th)	12.3%
14	March 14, 2017	9.7% (7th)	10.5% (5th)	10.4% (7th)	10.3% (5th)	11.0%
15	March 20, 2017	9.6% (12th)	10.7% (7th)	9.7% (7th)	9.3% (9th)	10.9%
16	March 21, 2017	8.9% (11th)	9.7% (6th)	8.8% (7th)	8.9% (6th)	10.0%
17	March 27, 2017	11.9% (7th)	12.3% (5th)	13.8% (5th)	14.3% (5th)	15.9%
18	March 28, 2017	12.3% (7th)	13.1% (5th)	13.9% (4th)	14.8% (5th)	16.3%
19	April 3, 2017	11.2% (7th)	11.6% (5th)	12.9% (5th)	13.7% (5th)	15.7%
20	April 4, 2017	12.8% (5th)	14.1% (5th)	12.5% (5th)	12.6% (5th)	15.7%
21	April 10, 2017	11.5% (7th)	12.6% (5th)	12.7% (5th)	13.1% (5th)	15.0%
22	April 11, 2017	12.5% (7th)	13.8% (5th)	13.0% (5th)	13.1% (5th)	15.7%
23	April 17, 2017	13.0% (5th)	14.2% (5th)	13.5% (5th)	14.2% (5th)	16.0%
24	April 18, 2017	13.0% (6th)	14.2% (5th)	13.3% (5th)	14.0% (5th)	15.6%
25	April 24, 2017	11.6% (7th)	12.6% (5th)	12.1% (5th)	12.6% (5th)	14.1%
26	April 25, 2017	11.6% (5th)	12.8% (5th)	12.4% (4th)	12.7% (4th)	14.3%
27	May 1, 2017	12.6% (5th)	14.7% (4th)	13.0% (5th)	13.7% (4th)	15.9%
28	May 8, 2017	13.3% (5th)	15.4% (4th)	12.3% (5th)	12.4% (5th)	15.8%
29	May 15, 2017	11.7% (7th)	12.5% (5th)	12.1% (6th)	12.8% (5th)	13.9%
30	May 16, 2017	13.8% (4th)	15.6% (4th)	14.4% (5th)	15.1% (5th)	17.0%
Average		10.8%	12.0%	11.7%	12.1%	13.9%

• 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.

Original soundtrack

Songs

The Rebel OST Album
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean
Label	Snow Entertainment Warner Music
Producer	Kim Kyu-nam Seol Gi-tae

Part 1

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"If Spring Comes (Original Version)" (봄이 온다면)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun	Jeon In-kwon	04:36
2.	"If Spring Comes (Drama Version)" (봄이 온다면)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun	Jeon In-kwon	04:31
3.	"If Spring Comes (Instrumental)" (봄이 온다면)		Ahn Ye-eun		04:31
Total length:					13:38

Part 2

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"If Spring Comes (Drama Version)" (봄이 온다면)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun	03:31
2.	"Which Way (Drama Version)" (길이 어데요)	Kim Soo-han	Kim Soo-han Fara Effect	Lee Ha-nui	02:56
3.	"If Spring Comes (Drama Version) (Instrumental)" (봄이 온다면)		Ahn Ye-eun		03:31
4.	"Which Way (Instrumental)" (길이 어데요)		Kim Soo-han Fara Effect		02:56
Total length:					12:54

Part 3

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Your Flower" (그대 꽃)	VIP	VIP	U Sung-eun	04:32
2.	"Your Flower (Instrumental)" (그대 꽃)		VIP		04:32
Total length:					09:04

Part 4

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"I Wanted To Love" (사랑하고 싶었던 거야)	Shin Jae-hong Shin Hyung Rapsta	Shin Jae-hong Shin Hyung	Minzy	03:26
2.	"I Wanted To Love (Instrumental)" (사랑하고 싶었던 거야)		Shin Jae-hong Shin Hyung		03:26
Total length:					06:52

Part 5

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Magic Lily" (상사화)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun	05:26
2.	"Magic Lily (Instrumental)" (상사화)		Ahn Ye-eun		05:26
Total length:					10:52

Part 6

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"That's Love" (사랑이라고)	Ahn Ye-eun	Kim Jin-hwan Ahn Ye-eun	Choi Yoon-a	04:44
2.	"That's Love (Instrumental)" (사랑이라고)		Kim Jin-hwan Ahn Ye-eun		04:44
Total length:					09:28

Part 7

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Spring Of Ilkhwari" (익화리의 봄)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun Kim Jin-hwan	Kim Sang-joong	04:10
2.	"Spring Of Ilkhwari (Ah Mo Gae narration version)" (익화리의 봄)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun Kim Jin-hwan	Kim Sang-joong	04:10
3.	"Spring Of Ilkhwari (Instrumental)" (익화리의 봄)		Ahn Ye-eun Kim Jin-hwan		04:10
Total length:					12:30

Part 8

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Nightly Rain" (담담히 적시고나)	Lee Il-woo	Park Min-hee Kim Soo-han	Jambinai feat. Park Min-hee	04:11
2.	"Nightly Rain (Instrumental)" (담담히 적시고나)		Park Min-hee Kim Soo-han		04:11
Total length:					08:22

Part 9

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"New Day" (새날)	Ahn Ye-eun	Ahn Ye-eun Haerobwang	Yeon Kyu-sung	05:12
2.	"New Day (Instrumental)" (새날)		Ahn Ye-eun Haerobwang		05:12
Total length:					10:24

Part 10

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"That's Love" (사랑이라고)	Ahn Ye-eun	Kim Jin-hwan Ahn Ye-eun	Chae Soo-bin	04:44
2.	"That's Love (Instrumental)" (사랑이라고)		Kim Jin-hwan Ahn Ye-eun		04:44
Total length:					09:28

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated Person	Result	Ref
2017	10th Korea Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	Kim Sang-joong	Won	[17][18]
		Best Drama	The Rebel	Nominated
		Best Production Director	Kim Jin-man	Nominated
		Best Screenplay	Hwang Jin-young	Nominated
		Top Excellence Award, Actor	Kim Ji-seok	Won
		Top Excellence Award, Actress	Lee Hanee	Won
		Excellence Award, Actor	Yoon Kyun-sang	Nominated
	1st The Seoul Awards	Best Drama	The Rebel	Nominated	[19][20]
		Best Actor	Yoon Kyun-sang	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Kim Ji-seok	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Lee Ha-nui	Won
	ABU Prizes	Commended Prize	The Rebel	Won	[21]
	Asian Television Awards	Best Drama Series		Nominated	[22]
	36th MBC Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	Kim Sang-joong	Won	[23][24][25]
		Drama of the Year	The Rebel	Won
		Writer of the Year	Hwang Jin-young	Won
		Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama	Kim Sang-joong	Nominated
			Yoon Kyun-sang	Nominated
		Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama	Lee Hanee	Won
		Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama	Chae Soo-bin	Won
		Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama	Kim Byeong-ok	Nominated
		Golden Acting Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama	Seo Yi-sook	Won
		Popularity Award, Actor	Yoon Kyun-sang	Nominated
		Popularity Award, Actress	Lee Hanee	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Kim Jung-hyun	Won
			Shim Hee-seop [ko]	Nominated
		Best New Actress	Lee Soo-min	Nominated
		Best Young Actor	Lee Ro-woon [ko]	Won
			Jung Soo-in	Nominated
		Best Character Award, Fighting Spirit Acting	Kim Sang-joong	Nominated
2018	54th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best Actor	Kim Sang-joong	Nominated	[26]