🌊 Korean Folktale Series 22
“The Legend of Mangbuseok”
(망부석 전설 · Mangbuseok Jeonseol)
🕰️ 1. The Story
Long ago, on the western coast of Korea, there lived a devoted woman whose husband had been sent away on a long journey across the sea. Before he left, they stood by the shore and promised to reunite no matter how many years might pass.
Seasons changed, yet her husband did not return. Each morning, the woman climbed a cliff overlooking the sea, gazing endlessly at the horizon, waiting for his ship to appear. Villagers pitied her, telling her to move on, but her heart would not yield. She believed that love, once given, should never fade.
Years turned into decades. Her hair grew white, and her steps grew weak, but her longing never changed. One day, as she stood facing the sunset, a fierce storm arose. Waves crashed against the shore, and lightning split the sky—but the woman did not move. She whispered softly, “If I cannot see him in this life, let me stand here until he returns.”
When the storm passed, the villagers found that the woman was gone—and in her place stood a tall stone shaped like a woman looking out to sea. They called it Mangbuseok (망부석), meaning “the rock of the faithful wife.”
It is said that even now, when the wind blows through that coastal cliff, one can hear a faint sigh—the eternal longing of a love that never surrendered.
🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons
- Love grounded in loyalty endures beyond time and death.
- True devotion asks for nothing in return, only remembrance.
- Faithfulness is a strength that transforms sorrow into timeless beauty.
👀 3. Reflections in Life
- Waiting, though painful, can be an act of deep love and faith.
- Some promises live on through memories, not words.
- The power of love can turn even heartbreak into something sacred.
🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World
- Japan — The Tale of the Waiting Wife of Matsue
A woman who turned into stone while waiting for her lost husband at sea. - Italy — The Statue of Pygmalion
A story of love so strong that it gives life to what was once lifeless. - Greece — Penelope in Homer’s Odyssey
The faithful wife who waited twenty years for her husband’s return from war.
💬 A Warm Saying
“Love that waits with patience never truly ends—it simply changes its form.”
📌 Note
This is creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission. Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.