
Watch Iljimae
- 2009
- 1 Season
-
8.0 (983)
Iljimae is a South Korean historical action series about a Robin Hood-style character, the titular Iljimae, who strikes the rich in a black, concealing outfit. In addition to the material wealth of corrupt government workers, Iljimae will also recover the wrongly accused and criminals evading punishment. In order to have his image grow, Iljimae leaves a small painting of a red plum blossom branch (apparently a reference to his name, which breaks down as "il" meaning one, "ji" meaning branch, and "mae" meaning plum tree. Obviously, the citizens of the land support Iljimae while the government tries to capture him and learn who this man is. Lee Gyeom is the son of the noble Lee Won-ho, a loyal supporter and brother of the king, as well as the central member of Cheonwoohoe, an organization containing various influential nobles, with the king at the top of its hierarchy. Gyeom lives peacefully with his wife and children, in a house surrounded by plum trees. Elsewhere, the king speaks with an oracle who states that Won-ho is a shining individual that will be loved by the people. The king's jealously leads to him slaying Won-ho, with Gyeom as a witness to the treachery. Gyeom soon contracts amnesia from the shock, not only from his father's murder but also from having to throw a stone at his mom's head to prove he wasn't related, and wanders the city for a while, eventually being taken in by the retired thief, Swe Dol. Thirteen years pass, as Gyeom, going by the name Yong, recovers his memories and starts hunting for his sister, Yeon. It turns out Yeon is sentenced and hanged. Yeon's murder drives Gyeom/Yong to avenge his family, hunting down the sword of his father's killer with only his recollection of the sword's emblem as a clue. This is where he takes up the cowl of Iljimae, hunting down every corrupt noble house. It is through his retribution against the agents of the scheming king that he becomes the darling of his countrymen.