Korean Folk Tales
Read our collection of 85 Korean folk tales — stories from the rich narrative tradition of the Korean Peninsula. Korean folklore blends Confucian values, Buddhist wisdom, and shamanistic beliefs into tales of extraordinary imagination and moral depth.
Our collection includes tales of filial sons and daughters, clever magistrates, grateful animals, vengeful ghosts, and the ever-present theme of karmic justice. Korean folk tales are known for their emphasis on loyalty, perseverance, and the triumph of virtue over corruption — values deeply embedded in Korean culture.
Each story is retold in clear, engaging English with beautiful ACK-style illustrations, making this collection perfect for exploring Korean culture, Asian folklore, and East Asian storytelling traditions.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Haunted Houses
Haunted Houses: There once lived a man in Seoul called Yi Chang, who frequently told as an experience of his own the following story: He was poor and had no
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
Fancha And The Magpie
A thousand years ago, Fancha and a magpie form an unlikely partnership, using wisdom and courage to overcome tyranny and restore justice through clever means.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
East Light And The Bridge Of Fishes
Long ago, beyond the Everlasting White Mountains, East Light shows unexpected kindness to a bridge of fishes, discovering that compassion opens a path to grace.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Faithful Mo
Faithful Mo. Kids-friendly retelling with setting, characters, moral, and a lesson for today.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Cursed By The Snake
A proud magistrate kicks over a sacred snake and learns that nature — and the spirit in it — always remembers.
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
Charan
Some say love is not found in the Oriental world, yet Charan's tale of enduring devotion and self-sacrifice proves that true love transcends all hardship.
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
Cheung Puk-Chang, The Seer
Cheung Puk-Chang, The Seer: The Yol-ryok Keui-sul, one of Korea’s noted histories, says of Cheung Puk-chang that he was pure in purpose and without selfish
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
Cat-Kin And The Queen Mother
Cat-Kin And The Queen Mother: Korea is called the Land of the Plum Blossom, but in winter the rivers freeze over. Then the men cut through the ice which is
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
A Visit From The Shades
A Visit From The Shades: (The story of meeting his mother’s ghost is reported to be of this man.) Choi Yu-won matriculated in 1579 and graduated in 1602
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
An Encounter With A Hobgoblin
An Encounter With A Hobgoblin: I got myself into trouble in the year Pyong-sin, and was locked up; a military man by the name of Choi Won-so, who was captain
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
A Story Of The Fox
A Story of the Fox: Ancient Wisdom About Cleverness and Magic In the ancient lands of Asia, storytellers have always known something special about foxes. These
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
A Bridegroom For Miss Mole
A Bridegroom For Miss Mole: By the river Kingin stands the great stone image, or Miryek, that was cut out of the solid rock ages ago. Its base lies far beneath