Korean Folktale : The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon

🐯 Korean Folktale Series 34

“The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon”

(호랑이와 곶감 · Horang-i wa Gotgam)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

Long ago, in a small mountain village, there lived a fierce tiger who believed there was nothing in the world he needed to fear. He was the king of the forest—strong, proud, and feared by all.

One cold winter night, hungry and restless, the tiger crept down toward the village in search of food. From inside one house came the soft cry of a baby. The tiger licked his lips and thought, “Ah, a perfect time to snatch a meal.” But before he could move closer, he heard the mother’s voice:

“Hush now, my little one. Stop crying, or the tiger will come!”

Hearing this, the tiger grinned. “Even humans fear me!” he thought proudly. But the baby only cried louder.

Then the mother said softly,

“If you stop crying, I’ll give you a dried persimmon.”

At once, the baby stopped. The tiger blinked in confusion.

“What is this... gotgam (dried persimmon)? It must be a creature even scarier than I am!”

As he trembled in the shadows, a cow thief who had been hiding behind the same house crept out, thinking the coast was clear. In the dark, he accidentally grabbed the tiger’s back, mistaking him for a cow.

Terrified, the tiger thought, “The gotgam has caught me!” and dashed up the mountain, the thief clinging desperately to his back. When they finally reached a cliff, the thief fell off in shock, while the tiger leapt away and never returned to the village again.

From that day on, the tiger avoided humans altogether, warning other animals,

“Beware the dreadful gotgam—it’s the one thing even I fear!”

And so, the tale of the tiger and the dried persimmon became a beloved story of misunderstanding, humor, and humility.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

• Fear often comes from imagination, not reality.
• Pride blinds us to truth; humility helps us see clearly.
• Even the mighty can learn laughter from their mistakes.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

• We often exaggerate what we don’t understand—sometimes, fear is only a shadow.
• Laughter and humility lighten the burdens of life.
• Even foolish moments can teach wisdom if we look back with a smile.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

•  China — The Foolish Tiger and the Old Woman
  A tiger misinterprets words and learns humility through fear.
•  Japan — The Tanuki and the Farmer
  A mischievous animal misunderstands humans and gets outwitted.
•  Europe — Aesop’s Fable: The Lion and the Mouse
  A mighty beast learns that even the smallest creatures can teach great lessons.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“What we fear most is often just a shadow of our own imagination.”

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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.