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.
In the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Gyeom lives a double life. By day, he's a carefree nobleman, but by night, he transforms into the masked vigilante 'Iljimae', a Robin Hood-like figure who steals from corrupt officials to help the poor. His quest for revenge against those responsible for his family's downfall intertwines with a blossoming romance and escalating political intrigue.
Iljimae was a highly popular and critically acclaimed historical drama in South Korea, praised for its compelling storyline, charismatic lead performance, and blend of action, romance, and social commentary. It successfully captured the audience's attention with its fast-paced narrative and visually engaging fight sequences.
Google audience: While specific Google user ratings are not readily available, audience reception generally highlighted the drama's thrilling plot, emotional depth, and the compelling transformation of the protagonist.
Won numerous awards at the SBS Drama Awards, including Top Excellence Award for Actor (Lee Joon-gi), Top Excellence Award for Actress (Han Hyo-joo), and Best Couple Award.
The drama's costume designer, Lee Jin-hee, received significant praise for creating Iljimae's distinctive red and black masked outfit, which became iconic and heavily influenced subsequent historical dramas.
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