🌕 Korean Folktale Series 23
“The Moonlight of Unhyeongung”
(운현궁의 달빛 · Unhyeongung-ui Dalbit)
🕰️ 1. The Story
In the late Joseon Dynasty, within the quiet walls of Unhyeongung Palace in Seoul, lived a noble lady known for her beauty, grace, and gentle heart. She was said to have fallen deeply in love with a young scholar—a man of humble birth, but pure soul.
Because of the strict class system, their love was forbidden. The scholar, knowing their bond could never be accepted, left the palace one night under the silver moonlight, promising to return once he achieved honor through the royal examinations. The lady waited by the palace pond, watching his shadow fade beyond the walls.
Days turned into months, and months into years. Every night, she sat by the same pond, gazing at the moon’s reflection shimmering on the water. The moon became her only companion, a silent witness to her longing.
One evening, after many years had passed, the scholar finally returned to Seoul—but too late. The lady had fallen ill and passed away under that same moonlight she once adored. Heartbroken, the scholar wept before the pond, and legend says that the moon glowed brighter than ever, casting its light upon the palace as if to comfort the two souls that fate had kept apart.
Since then, people have said that on clear nights, the moon over Unhyeongung shines with a soft, sorrowful light—the eternal glow of a love that transcended time and regret.
🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons
- Love may fade from the world, but its memory lingers like moonlight.
- Even unfulfilled love can become something eternal when bound by sincerity.
- The moon reflects both joy and sorrow, reminding us that beauty often lives within longing.
👀 3. Reflections in Life
- Some promises are never completed in life, yet they shine on through remembrance.
- The deepest connections may not need words—only shared silence and faith.
- When love is sincere, even separation becomes a gentle light rather than darkness.
🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World
- Japan — The Tale of Princess Kaguya
A love separated by heaven and earth, symbolized by the eternal moonlight. - China — The Legend of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess
A story of love, loss, and immortality beneath the glow of the full moon. - France — Tristan and Isolde
Lovers divided by fate, whose passion endures beyond the limits of life.
💬 A Warm Saying
“Even when hearts part, the moon remembers their love.”
📌 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.