Long ago, in a quiet mountain village in Korea, there lived a poor young man who spent his days farming a small patch of land. Though his hands were rough and his clothes worn, his heart was gentle, and he always shared what little he had. Yet he was lonely, for he had no family and no one to speak to when the sun set behind the hills.
One spring morning, while tending his field, he noticed a small snail struggling in the dry soil. Its shell was cracked and covered with dust. “Poor creature,” he said softly, placing it in his water jar so it might live. From that day on, he kept the snail near his home, caring for it as a friend.
Weeks passed, and his crops began to thrive more than ever before. His neighbors marveled. “How can a poor man’s field grow so rich?” they whispered. The young farmer only smiled and said nothing. Each evening when he returned from the fields, he found that his hut had been swept clean, a pot of warm rice placed neatly on the table, and water drawn from the well. No one ever saw who helped him.
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One day, curious and amazed, he decided to hide behind a screen and watch. When the sun rose high and the fields shimmered with heat, he saw a soft light fill his hut. From the small jar where the snail lived, a mist rose and formed the shape of a beautiful young woman dressed in a silk robe that shimmered like a shell. She began sweeping, cooking, and singing softly.
The farmer stepped forward in awe. “Who are you?” he asked.
The maiden turned, startled but smiling gently. “I am Ureongi Gaksi—the Snail Bride. You saved me from dying in the dust, and I have come to repay your kindness. But now that you have seen me, I cannot return to my shell. If you wish, I will stay with you as your wife.”
The young man, overjoyed, bowed deeply. “Then let us live together with honesty and care,” he said. They married soon after, and their life was peaceful and full of quiet happiness. The Snail Bride was wise and graceful. She helped the farmer’s field yield twice its harvest, and their humble home became the envy of all.
Yet she made one request: “Promise me that no matter what happens, you will not try to look upon me while I am praying at dawn. If you love me, you must trust me.” The farmer promised, though his curiosity often stirred.
Time passed, and their happiness drew attention. One day, the local magistrate passed through the village and saw the Snail Bride drawing water from the well. Her beauty was beyond compare her skin pale as rice blossoms, her eyes calm as a pond. The magistrate, filled with envy and desire, ordered his guards to bring her to him. When the farmer protested, the magistrate laughed. “A mere peasant does not deserve such a wife,” he sneered. “She belongs in a noble house.”
The Snail Bride wept, but she was taken away to the palace. The poor farmer wandered helplessly, calling her name. For days he searched the hills and rivers, praying she would return. Finally, remembering her words, he went to the small jar where she once lived. There, on the rim, he saw a single shining drop of water like a tear. As he touched it, a voice whispered, “You broke your promise by doubting, and fate has taken me away. But I will remain in your heart, as long as you remember love without greed.”
In some versions, the Snail Bride vanished into mist, returning to the spirit world. In others, the farmer wandered until his death, his spirit joining hers in the next life. In the village, people said that when it rains gently after a dry season, it is Ureongi Gaksi returning to bless the kind-hearted who keep their promises.
Moral Lesson
The tale of Ureongi Gaksi teaches that love built on patience and trust endures, while impatience and greed bring sorrow. It also reflects the belief that kindness to even the smallest creature can bring unexpected blessings, and that true worth lies not in wealth or rank, but in sincerity and compassion.
Knowledge Check
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How did the farmer first meet the Snail Bride?
He rescued a small snail that was dying in the dry soil. -
What mysterious things began happening after he took the snail home?
His house was cleaned and meals were prepared each day when he was away. -
How did the snail transform into a maiden?
The snail transformed into a woman by emerging from her shell through magic. -
What promise did the Snail Bride ask of her husband?
She asked him not to watch her while she prayed at dawn. -
Who took the Snail Bride away from her husband?
A greedy magistrate who envied her beauty took her to his palace. -
What lesson does the story teach?
That patience, kindness, and trust bring blessings, while curiosity and greed cause loss.
Source
Adapted from “Ureongi Gaksi” (The Snail Bride), a traditional Korean folktale recorded in regional oral literature and children’s story collections.
Cultural Origin
Korea (traditional / oral folklore)
