Korean Folktale : The Story of the Good Brothers

Korean Folktale Series 39

The Story of the Good Brothers
(의좋은 형제 이야기 · Euijoheun Hyeongje Iyagi)

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📜 1. The Tale Begins

Long ago, in a quiet village surrounded by green fields and gentle hills,
there lived two brothers who loved each other dearly.
They farmed side by side, shared every meal,
and divided their harvest equally — as true brothers should.

But one year, the land suffered from drought.
Even though they had little, both brothers still worried — not for themselves,
but for each other.

The elder brother thought,
“My younger brother has a family to feed. He must need more rice than I do.”
So, in the middle of the night, he quietly carried a sack of grain to his brother’s barn.

That same night, the younger brother whispered to himself,
“My older brother lives alone; no one helps him in hard times.
He deserves more than I do.”
He too carried a sack of grain to his brother’s barn under the moonlight.

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🍃 2. The Unexpected Meeting

When morning came, each found their storehouse still full —
and wondered how that could be.
The same thing happened the next night, and the next.

Finally, on the third night,
the two brothers met in the field, each carrying a sack of grain.
Realizing what had been happening, they stood silently in the moonlight.
Then they smiled, dropped their burdens, and embraced —
their hearts overflowing with love and gratitude.

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🪄 3. Meaning & Lesson

▪️ True love is shown not in words, but in quiet deeds of care.
▪️ Sharing brings peace to both giver and receiver.
▪️ When hearts are generous, even hardship turns into blessing.

This story embodies the Korean value of 정 (Jeong) —
a deep affection and bond that connects people beyond obligation.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

▪️ United States — The story of two friends who secretly give each other gifts out of love and care (often compared to The Gift of the Magi).
▪️ China — “兄友弟恭 (Xiōng yǒu dì gōng).” — “The elder is kind, the younger is respectful.”
▪️ Japan — “情けは人の為ならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu).” — “Kindness is never wasted.”
▪️ France — Tales of peasants who share bread despite famine also carry this same moral — that compassion enriches both sides.

Across cultures, the story of the Good Brothers teaches
that love deepens when we give, not when we count.

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💬 5. A Warm Saying

“When love gives without expecting,
it fills both hands — and both hearts.”

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📌 Note
This is a creative retelling from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).

Please do not copy without permission.
Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.