This study examines the semiotic composition of Kim Deok‐ryeong in folktales. Kim Deok‐ryeong is a symbol. Kim Deok‐ryeong was a representative of Confucian ideas in the ruling class, and he was the symbol of a person who resisted the ruling system for the sake of ordinary people. In folktales, which can be called the history of ordinary people, Kim Deok‐ryeong is seen as a protagonist of the dominant group who shows various expansions in semiotic meaning. This study shows that the central illustrations transmitted by the region of Kim Deokryeong’s folktales are different and attempts to analyze them. In Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Gangwon provinces, tales were composed of illustrations of “Eternal Loyal Retainer, Kim Deok‐ryeong.” The narrative subject interprets Kim Deok‐ryeong as a semiotic meaning exposing the false idea of the ruling system. The illustration of “Myeongdangbbaetgi” and the illustration of “Onui Himnaegi” are narratives that hold the mytheme. These illustrations are used to show the tragic nature of Kim Deok‐ryeong’s death. In particular, the gradual development of the illustration in the Honam region is a work of releasing Kim Deok‐ryeong, who reached the level of general people. Finally, Gwangju, the hometown of Kim Deok‐ryeong, becomes a symbol representing the identity of the locals while Kimiok‐ryeong’s semiotic meaning interacts with various places. Furthermore, Kim Deok ryeong’s peripheral story, which cannot be seen in other regions, is still being produced, and so we can see the meaningful expansion of a symbol.