🌿 Korean Folktale Series 27
“The Returned Filial Son – The Tale That Moved Even the Magistrate”
(돌아온 효자, 원님도 감동한 이야기 · Doraon Hyoja Iyagi)
🕰️ 1. The Story
Long ago, in a peaceful village surrounded by green hills, there lived a young man named Seonwoo, known for his deep devotion to his elderly mother. Though poor, he worked tirelessly to care for her, sharing every meal and bowing to her each morning with respect.
One year, a great famine swept through the region. Crops withered, and people struggled to survive. To save his mother, Seonwoo decided to travel far away to find work and food. Before leaving, he knelt before her and said, “Mother, please wait for me. I will return soon with enough rice for us to live in peace.”
Years passed, but Seonwoo did not return. His mother, now frail and weak, waited every evening at the village path, hoping to see her son’s face again. One spring morning, she fell gravely ill. News of her condition reached a nearby town—where a beggar who looked familiar heard the name “Seonwoo.”
The beggar wept. It was indeed Seonwoo, who had been robbed and left with nothing on his journey. Without hesitation, he ran back to his village, barefoot and exhausted. When he arrived, he found his mother unconscious. Holding her hand, he whispered through tears, “Mother, your son is home.”
At that moment, she opened her eyes, smiled faintly, and passed away peacefully. The scene moved everyone in the village to tears. Even the local magistrate, who came to hear of the story, wept and said,
“A son’s devotion that crosses hardship and time is the truest virtue of all.”
The magistrate arranged for Seonwoo’s mother to be buried with honor, and the village built a small stone monument called the “Stele of the Filial Son.” It stood for generations as a reminder that love for one’s parents is the greatest form of goodness.
🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons
- Filial love transcends time, distance, and poverty.
- True devotion needs no wealth—only sincerity.
- Gratitude and care for one’s parents are the roots of all virtue.
👀 3. Reflections in Life
- In every age, kindness toward one’s parents reflects the light of a pure heart.
- Love given with patience and respect returns as peace in the end.
- The memory of a devoted heart never fades—it becomes a legacy.
🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World
- China — The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars
Ancient Chinese tales honoring sons and daughters who risked their lives for their parents. - Japan — The Tale of Filial Piety (Kōshi no Hanashi)
Stories of children who sacrificed their comfort for the sake of family duty. - Europe — The Legend of St. Monica and St. Augustine
A mother’s faith and a son’s devotion intertwined through love and repentance.
💬 A Warm Saying
“The heart that honors parents shines brighter than gold.”
📌 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.
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