Korean Folktale : The Runaway Horse and the Boy

🐎 Korean Folktale Series 76

“The Runaway Horse and the Boy”
(도망친 말과 소년 · Domangchin Mal-gwa Sonyeon)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

In a peaceful valley surrounded by rolling hills, there lived a young boy named Duri, the son of a humble stable keeper. Though poor, Duri loved the horses more than anything in the world. He brushed their manes, fed them fresh grass, and whispered stories to them at sunset.

Among all the horses, his favorite was Hwanma, a spirited white stallion known for its incredible speed. The villagers said Hwanma had the wind living in its hooves. Yet the horse trusted no one—except Duri.

One spring morning, as the stable doors were being repaired, a loud noise startled Hwanma. With a cry, the stallion bolted through the opening and disappeared across the fields.

The villagers panicked.

“If we lose him, our harvest festival will be ruined!”
“That horse is our pride!”

Duri bowed to the elders.

“Let me find him. He will hear my voice.”

Carrying only a small pouch of feed and a water gourd, the boy set off into the wild hills.

He searched through bamboo forests, rocky cliffs, and even the deep ravines where deer hid. At night, he slept beneath trees, shivering in the cold. Yet each morning, he woke with the same determination.

“Hwanma… please be safe.”

On the fourth day, Duri found hoofprints near a steep mountainside. Following them, he discovered Hwanma trapped between sharp rocks, one leg caught in a tangle of thorny vines. The proud stallion trembled in pain.

Duri approached slowly, humming the gentle tune he always sang while grooming Hwanma. The horse’s ears twitched. Recognition flickered in its frightened eyes.

“It’s me, Hwanma. I’m here now.”

With careful hands, Duri cut the vines and soothed the injured leg. The stallion nudged him weakly, as if apologizing.

But the journey home was long, and Hwanma could barely stand.
So Duri made a decision.
He tore his clothes into strips, wrapped the horse’s leg, and stayed by its side for three more days—bringing water from the stream and gathering herbs taught to him by village elders.

On the seventh morning, Hwanma rose to its feet. Though slow, it walked—step by step—guided by Duri’s steady hand.

When they finally returned to the village, the people cheered.

“Duri saved him!”
“No one has ever tamed Hwanma’s spirit—yet he follows the boy like a shadow!”

From that day on, Hwanma was no longer a runaway horse but Duri’s lifelong companion. During the harvest festival, the two raced together, swift as wind, earning not just victory but the admiration of all.

The villagers often said,

“Strength cannot win a wandering heart—but devotion can.”

And so, the legend of the boy and the runaway horse lived on as a timeless tale of loyalty, courage, and gentle understanding.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

▪️ Devotion can calm even the wildest spirit.
▪️ True care asks for patience, not control.
▪️ The bonds we nurture with sincerity become unbreakable.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

▪️ Trust is earned through actions, not words.
▪️ Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is stay beside someone in pain.
▪️ Strength grows when kindness leads the way.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

Japan — The Loyal Horse of Matsue
A wild horse bonds with a young boy through trust and shared hardship.

Mongolia — The Story of the Wind Horse
A swift, untamed horse chooses a humble shepherd boy as its rider.

Sweden — The Runaway Stallion
A frightened horse returns thanks to the gentle patience of a young farmhand.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“A heart guided by kindness can lead even the wind home.”

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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.