[Korean Culture & Language] A magpie that returned the favor


Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


Unfortunately, kindness and good deeds sometimes result in scorn or abuse. 

There’s a saying in Korea, “개도 기르면 은혜를 안다” which literally means “Even dogs are grateful for the kindness that people have shown them”. It implies that you should appreciate and return the favor.

Returning the favor is the subject of many Korean folktales. One of the most popular is "은혜갚은 까치(a magpie that returned the favor)". 



During the Joseon Dynasty, a young man named Kim lived in a village in Gangwon-do. He was famous for being a good archer. Kim left his village to take the Mugwa exam (the civil service exam for military officers) to pursue his long-cherished dream. 

The young man walked for days, crossing the rough mountains and lakes. One day, he heard a moaning sound from somewhere while passing across the road of Jeokaksan (Jeokak mountain). He realized that the sound was coming from the tree next to him. Two magpies were about to be eaten by a giant snake. The young man instantly drew his bow and shot it at the snake, killing it with a precise shot through its neck. 

The two magpies flew away with great joy. 

Kim was delighted to see the magpies fly away, and resumed his trip down the mountain. As the evening grew darker, he searched for a place to sleep. His attention then was drawn to a light coming from an old house. He knocked on the door, and a lovely woman came out with a lamp. She agreed to let him stay the night.

He fell asleep as soon as he lied down since he was exhausted. But soon after, he felt that he couldn’t breathe. When he opened his eyes, a snake was surrounding his body. It was the wife of the snake he killed. The snake proposed a deal: It wouldn’t kill him if the bell outside rings three times before dawn.

The bell didn’t ring until dawn and Kim assumed it was over. Then the bell began to ring loudly. It rang three times. “I really wanted to get rid of you, but I’ll keep the promise. Leave now,” the snake said. 

Kim went up to the bell tower to thank the Buddha for saving his life. The bell was drenched in blood, with dozens of magpies dead under the bell with their heads crushed.

Kim was moved by the magpies’ noble sacrifices and buried them in a sunny place. He then built a temple instead of going to Hanyang to take the exam. That temple is now recognized as “Sangwonsa,” a Buddhist temple located in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon-do, South Korea.

Returning favors(은혜를 갚다) is an important part of Korean culture. Do you have any favors to repay today? 


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