The Return of Iljimae (2009): cast, story & where to watch
2009 · Series · ★ 4.4
Released in 2009, The Return of Iljimae is a drama series.
What it’s about. The Return of Iljimae is a 2009 South Korean historical action television series, starring Jung Il-woo in the title role of Iljimae, Yoon Jin-seo, Kim Min-jong and Jung Hye-young. It aired on MBC from January 21 to April 9, 2009 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. The series is based on comic strip Iljimae, published between 1975 and 1977, by Ko Woo-yung which was based on a Chinese folklore from the Ming dynasty about a masked Robin Hood-esque character during the Joseon era. MBC bought the rights to the comic strip for their adaptation, which was to star Lee Seung-gi in the title role of Iljimae. However he pulled out and was replaced by Jung, which makes him the third Korean actor to play the hero following Jang Dong-gun and Lee Joon-gi for Iljimae.
Who’s in it. The Return of Iljimae stars Jung Il-woo as Iljimae, Yoon Jin-seo as Dal-yi / Wol-hee, Kim Min-jong as Koo Ja-myung and Jeong Hye-young as Baek-mae, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.4/10, The Return of Iljimae has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Rakuten Viki. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Return of Iljimae page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Return of Iljimae tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Return of Iljimae (2009)?
- In US, The Return of Iljimae is available to stream on Rakuten Viki. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Return of Iljimae worth watching?
- The Return of Iljimae holds an audience score of 4.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Return of Iljimae?
- The Return of Iljimae stars Jung Il-woo, Yoon Jin-seo, Kim Min-jong, Jeong Hye-young and Cheon Ho-jin.
- When was The Return of Iljimae released?
- The Return of Iljimae was released in 2009.