Greco-Roman and Norse mythology are well known, but how much do we know about traditional Korean mythology? Our mythology is divided into universal and local myths, and each story reflects our old ways of life and values. Forgotten during the Japanese occupation and rapid modernization, Korean mythology has recently been rediscovered in modern times through works such as Together with the Gods, and there has been a growing interest in education. Korean mythology is an important key to understanding ourselves, and we hope that it will be reinterpreted and loved in the modern world.
Zeus, Hera, Apollon, Thor, Odin. We’ve all heard of them somewhere and know what they’re about. These are the names of gods from Greco-Roman and Norse mythology. But how much do we really know about our traditional gods? Many people have never heard of or know anything about names like King Cheonji, King Daebyeol, King Sobbyeol, Halakgungi, and Kangrimdoeryeong. Let’s take a look at some of the myths we don’t know about Korean mythology.
Korea’s mythology can be divided into two main categories. One is universal mythology, and the other is local mythology. We know and are familiar with a lot of universal myths, such as the Dangun myth, Gojumong myth, and Kim Alji myth. Universal myths are the origin of our nation or the founding myths of the nations that existed in Korea in the past, so the contents are well organized and many people know them. On the other hand, local myths are different. Local myths are based on the characteristics of each region and are less universal, but they are often not well organized and have been lost over time. However, if you look for them and read them, you’ll see how fun and interesting they can be. There are many stories that are no less entertaining and interesting than foreign myths, such as the story of King Cheonji and King Sobaek, the older brother of King Daebyeol and the younger brother of King Sobyeol, the story of Halakgung, the guardian of the Seocheon Flower Garden, where mysterious grasses and flowers grow, the story of Kangrim Do-ryeong, who became a netherworld chauffeur after being recognized by King Yeomradaewang for his abilities as a human being, and the story of Hwang Woo-yang, a brilliant carpenter, who became a seongju god.
Korean traditional myths are characterized by their close connection to the way we used to live. A typical example is the gataksin. There are many household spirits that live in different parts of the house and take care of the people living in the house, such as Seongshin, who lives in the Shinju complex, Jowangsin, who lives in the butte, and Saeopsin, who lives in the back room. Our ancestors were able to create their own mythology by attributing deities to objects they could see in their homes, but this creates a disconnect for people today. We don’t have shrine complexes around us, or houses with boutiques and back rooms, so our myths are becoming distant from our lives.
Traditional Korean myths shouldn’t just be seen as old stories. They have been an important part of shaping our identity and culture. For example, our ancestors sought to learn life lessons from the actions of mythical characters. These myths are not just stories, but reflect the lifestyle, values, and worldview of the people of the time, and they remind us of important life wisdom that modern people have forgotten.
Traditional myths are also consistent with our values. In traditional mythology, the afterlife consists of 10 different hells. Each hell is judged based on different sins, and it’s interesting to see what those sins are. In particular, the Frosty Hell, which punishes those who are disobedient or who repay a favor with enmity, the Frozen Hell, which punishes those who hurt others’ feelings, and the Sword Hell, which punishes those who turn away from those in crisis, reveal the lives and values of our ancestors, who valued filial piety and lived in the spirit of mutual respect.
However, there are several reasons why these myths have fallen into disuse. During the Japanese occupation, they were suppressed due to the cultural eradication policy, and after liberation, they were distanced from the rapid modernization by denying traditional lifestyles and adopting new lifestyles. In this situation, they were completely buried as other, more organized cultures came in.
Nowadays, there is a growing interest in our mythology and efforts are being made to restore it in a modern way. A typical example is ‘With God’. The reason why Greco-Roman mythology is well known in Korea is because it was made into a comic book, making it fun and accessible. As a webtoon, ‘Together with God’ also took advantage of this, and rather than simply translating the myths, it adapted them to relate to our daily lives, gaining the attention and love of many people. ‘Together with God,’ which concluded on August 28, 2012, is being made into a comic book in Japan, and a drama and movie are in the works. This will further increase the interest in our mythology.
There is also a growing interest in Korean traditional mythology in education. By including our myths in K-12 textbooks and introducing them to students through various educational materials, the younger generation can naturally understand and respect our culture. If these efforts are sustained, our myths will become not just relics of the past, but cultural assets that are alive and well in the present and future.
After all, our myths are an important key to understanding ourselves. It is hoped that our traditional myths will be reinterpreted in a modern way, attracting the attention and love of many people and enriching our cultural identity.
