Korean Folktale : The Revenge of the Turtle

🐢 Korean Folktale Series 69

“The Revenge of the Turtle”
(거북이의 복수 · Geobugi-ui Boksu)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

Long ago, in a quiet coastal village, there lived a gentle turtle who spent his days swimming through clear blue waters and sunning himself on warm rocks. The villagers respected sea creatures, for they believed each one carried the spirit of the ocean.

But one fisherman named Mansu was cruel and greedy. He set traps everywhere—near reefs, rocks, and even the shallow pools where young sea creatures played. One morning, the turtle wandered into a hidden net Mansu had placed.

The turtle struggled desperately, but the ropes tightened. Instead of helping, Mansu laughed.

“A foolish turtle! You will fetch a good price at the market.”

But a passing village boy named Yuri saw the trapped turtle and begged,

“Please don’t harm him. The sea spirits will be angered!”

Mansu ignored him and dragged the turtle home. That night, as Mansu slept, the sky darkened, and the ocean grew violent. Giant waves crashed against the shore, far larger than any storm the villagers had seen.

Inside the waves appeared shimmering silhouettes—guardian spirits of the sea—and among them was the turtle, glowing with ancient power.

With a thunderous voice, one spirit spoke:

“You took what was innocent and mocked the laws of nature.
The ocean remembers every cruelty.”

Mansu awoke to the roar of water swirling around his house. Terrified, he fled to the shore, where the turtle stood before him—not fierce, but sorrowful.

The turtle said softly,

“I asked for no treasure, no respect… only to live in peace.
Your greed brought harm to many, not just me.”

The waves rose high, but instead of drowning Mansu, they carried him far out into the dark sea. For three days, he drifted, frightened and alone. During that time, he saw the vastness of the ocean: its beauty, its danger, its living heartbeat.

He returned to shore humbled and trembling. The turtle swam near him and whispered,

“Cruelty may be repaid, but mercy teaches deeper.”

From that day, Mansu abandoned his traps and became the village’s protector of sea life. The turtle, for its part, continued to swim near the rocks, but now with quiet approval, knowing change had taken root.

The villagers tell this story to remind children that the ocean holds memories long and deep—and that kindness returns just as surely as cruelty does.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

▪️ Nature remembers every harm, but also every act of mercy.
▪️ Greed blinds the heart, but humility opens it again.
▪️ True strength lies not in revenge, but in transformation.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

▪️ Hurting the helpless is the quickest path to one’s own downfall.
▪️ Sometimes, the greatest justice is learning compassion.
▪️ When we respect nature, it protects us in return.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

Japan — The Tale of Urashima Tarō
A fisherman shows kindness to a turtle and is rewarded by the Dragon King of the Sea.

China — The Turtle Spirit of the Eastern Sea
A sacred turtle punishes those who disrespect the ocean’s balance.

Greece — The Sea’s Judgment
A story where the sea avenges the suffering of innocent creatures.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Mercy can calm storms that revenge would only worsen.”

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📌 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.