Tag Archives: Korean culture

Why Frogs Cry(Croak) in the Rain

Text:

Long ago, there lived a widowed frog mother and her son. Her son was notoriously mischievous and disobedient, often doing the opposite of what his mother told him. If his mother told him to come inside, he would stay outside and play longer. If she told him to go up, he would go down. If she told him to go to the hills, he would wander near the river, and so on and so forth. She loved her son very much, but his antics worried her so much she began to get sick. But even then, her son did not change. One day, when the mother frog knew she was going to die, she lay on her deathbed and called her son over. She wanted a proper burial on the mountainside, but knew that if she told her son, he would do the opposite. So she asked him to bury her next to the river. Sorrowfully, he promised. And when she died, her son mourned and blamed himself for her death, and decided to keep his last promise to his mother rather than go against her supposed wishes. So, even though he knew it wasn’t the proper way, he buried his mother next to the river instead of up in the mountains. But when it rained, the waters started to rise, and he prayed that it would not wash away his mother’s grave. But the rain did not stop, and the river overflowed, and indeed washed his mother’s grave away. The son sat in the rain and cried for his mother. And that is why frogs cry in the rain today.

Context:

The informant had heard this tale from her mother, as it is a traditional Korean folktale. She interprets it as a warning to obey your elders, especially your parents.

Analysis:

I, too, interpret this story as a warning to always listen to your parents and respect them. I see this as a broader reflection of Korean culture; historically, almost all aspects of Korean society have operated under strong Confucian influences and values, especially filial piety, obedience, and social harmony. In the story, because the frog disobeyed his mother constantly, he caused her early death, and furthermore caused himself personal distress as he watched her grave wash away. This is a consequence of his constant disregard of hierarchical family relationships(in Korea, elders are held in high esteem and have overarching authority in the family dynamic) that are central to Confucianism. Although this is a folktale to find the reason behind frogs crying–croaking–in the rain, this story seems moreso to be a cautionary tale rather than an etiological story.

Arirang

Text:

Arirang is a traditional Korean ballad that is thought to have originated from a folktale–the true origins, however, are unknown. The name of the ballad comes from a legend of a man and a woman who fell in love while picking flowers near a lake called Auraji(아우라지). The name “auraji” comes from the Korean word “eoureojida” (어우러지다) which loosely means “be in harmony” or “to meet”. The man and the woman lived on opposite sides of the Auraji, to longed to be united. In his yearning, the man attempts to cross the Auraji, but drowns. However, while he’s drowning, he sings the song Arirang to his lover in an attempt to console her.

Context:

The informant heard this song simply as she was growing up in Korea. During her childhood, Korea was going through an economic, social, and cultural crisis, and many people were still remembering the ghosts of the Korean War a few decades prior.

Analysis

Today, Arirang typically is seen as a song that represents the people’s wishes to reunite North and South Korea. The lyrics and melody carry the Korean concept of han(although this is a post-modern interpretation of the ballad, as han originates from colonial Korea in the 20th century), which is the concept of a collective feeling of sorrow or resentment, grief, and longing in the face of hardship. This is especially symbolic, as Korea has had a long history of political turmoil, and carries most recently the scars of Japanese colonialism, but still prioritizes unity and perseverance even with these challenges.

Because Arirang is a relatively old ballad–it’s thought to be at least 600 years old–I find it interesting that it is still relevant today, despite there being over a thousand different variations of it. It’s seen as a protest song, an unofficial anthem of resistance over (dictatorial) authority), but its lyrics tell a touching, mournful story. I personally see it as the people telling others that only by uniting and remember their past can they overcome hardship(this goes hand-in-hand to the idea that folklore helps with identity on a national level).

Ungnyeo

Text:

A long time ago, a bear and a tiger wished to become human. They prayed fervently, and the god Hwanung decided to fulfill their wish. He gave them each many cloves of garlic and mugwort, and told them to eat these everyday while staying out of the sun for 100 days, then they will turn human. At first, the tiger and bear obediently ate the garlic and mugwort daily, and stayed in a dark cave, but soon the tiger became frustrated and gave up, leaving the cave. However, the bear persisted, and after a 100 days, she turned into a woman named Ungnyeo. She then prayed to Hwanung to become a mother, and her wish was granted–she gave birth to a son named Tangun, who became the first king of the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon.

Context:

The informant heard this story from their parents, but because it is a creation myth and widely known, they’ve heard it multiple times from multiple people over the years.

Analysis:

This creation story follows the trend among many cultures of giving their rulers a sense of divinity, whether they’re a descendant of the gods, or chosen by. one, or actually a deity. This myth highlights key Confucian and cultural virtues such as patience, endurance, humility, and devotion. The bear’s perseverance is celebrated, positioning these qualities as foundational to Korean identity and societal ideals. There is a huge spiritual meaning behind this myth: the divine connection between the heavens(the god) and the earth(the bear) results in a ruler that symbolizes harmony and is the literal union of the divine and the earthly. It also subtly elevates maternal strength and the feminine role in nation-building, as the bear-woman becomes the literal mother of the Korean people.

Imugi Legend

AGE: 45

Date of performance: 04/01/2025

Language: English

Nationality: South Korean 

Occupation: Teacher 

Primary Language: Korean/English 

Title- Imugi  

Context- J tells me about the legend of “imugi”, which were believed to be giant serpents that want to be dragons but have to live to be 1,000 years before becoming one. In order to become a true dragon, they must be 1,000 years old and obtain a pearl of power. J says that imugi can either be nice, or come off as mean due to frustration of not being fulfilled. 

Analysis- Legends are a part of the narrative genre of folklore that may or may not be true. The legend of imugi in Korean culture can be equated with legends such as Loch Ness monster or seeing aliens—the likelihood of the stories being true is low, but people continue to believe and carry the legend on due to its cultural significance. Dragons are seen as wise beings in East Asian culture, and imugis are a level inferior to dragons. Koreans also use imugi to reference someone who hasn’t reached their full potential yet.

Clothes Are Wings

Age: 24

Text:

“Clothes are wings.”

Context:

The informer tells me that this is a Korean proverb, and essentially means “Clothes make people better”. They’re not sure where they learned it from, but they assume it’s from their parents, or from watching k-dramas.

Analysis:

I thought it was very interesting that Korea would have a proverb about physical appearances and how it affects how people may perceive you. Korean society is very much one where one’s physical appearance absolutely determines how you are treated, where you are in the social hierarchy, and what people think your character and personality is like–this is all determined by how you look. It can become so extreme to the point where it may becomes toxic–one must always be skinny and slender, conventionally attractive, pale, chic, with impeccable fashion taste regardless of your socioeconomic status.

I feel like this emphasis on physical appearance has something to do with how homogenous Korea is, and its values on community rather than the individual. By having the mindset that “clothes make the man”, it creates a standard that everyone must strive to meet in order to not stand out and disrupt the flow of what is considered “normal”. This is a Confucian ideal(community over individual), which is a foundational aspect of Korean culture and social roles.