Yi Mongryong, who always studies hard, goes out to get some fresh air.

He sees Chunhyang
on a swing and he falls in love with her at first sight. He orders his servant, PangJa, to ask
Chunhyang to come to him but she refuses. Yi Mongryong then goes to talk to Chunhyang's
mother, Wolmae, to ask permission to marry Chunhyang; Wolmae gives her permission and
the two young people marry that day.

Yi Mongryong's father, a government official, has to move to another region, Hanyang

(Seoul now) so Yi Mongryong has to leave Chunhyang to follow his father. Chunhyang gives
Yi Mongryong a ring as a token of her love for him and promises to stay faithful to him and
wait for him to come back in the future and take her to Seoul. After he leaves, a replacement
for Mongryong's father comes to Chunhyang's village. The new replacement is Pyon, a
greedy and selfish person- he always wastes his time partying with courtesans. Chunhyang,
renowned for her beauty, is forced to come to his party. Although Chunhyang is not a
courtesan, Pyon treats her like one because her mother is a courtesan. He compels her to sleep
with him, but Chunhyang keeps refusing because she is married. Pyon gets angry and
imprisons her. He decides to punish her on his birthday.

Yi Mongryong wins first place in a state examination and he becomes a secret royal
inspector, or Amhaeng-eosa, who investigates and prosecutes corrupt government officials as
an undercover emissary of the king. Under disguise, he comes to Chunhyang's village and
finds out what has happened to Chunhyang and the misbehavior of Pyon. He must conceal his
real identity so he acts like an insane person and wears mendicant clothes. Despite his
mendicancy, Chunhyang still loves him and asks her mother to take good care of him.

At Pyon's birthday celebration, Yi Mongryong comes in and makes a satirical poem about the
misbehavior of Pyon, but he does not understand the poem. Yi Mongryong discloses his real
position and punishes the lord. At first, Chunhyang cannot recognize Yi Mongryong and he
tests her faith by asking her to spend a night with him. Chunhyang, who still cannot recognize
him, refuses him as well. Deeply moved by her faithfulness, Yi Mongryong orders a
courtesan to show her the ring Chunhyang gave him. She is shocked that he is Yi Mongryong
and they live happily ever after.

Important features
 Love between Courtesan's daughter and Government official's son
 The selfish lord being punished by Mongryong
 Chunhyang, who keeps her integrity until the end

Like any other

literature, The Tale of Chunhyang also reflects its society. Although the author is unknown, it
is deducible that every nation was involved. The common people might get vicarious pleasure
from the main characters who get over the difference of social standings and punish the
greedy lord. Also keeping female's integrity is the traditional Korean's conservative moral.
The Tale of Chunhyang: true love conquers
all in this folklore classic
Jan 19, 2015

The Chunhyangjeon is one of Korea’s most iconic stories. Although its author and date of
composition are unknown, it most likely originated as a work of pansori, a form of musical
storytelling involving song and percussion, and was later adapted into prose during the reign
of either King Sukjong (r. 1674–1720) or King Yeongjo (r. 1724–1776). The classic love
story has since been rendered into several films, plays and other dramatic forms. Multiple
versions exist, but they all adhere to the same basic plot.

True Love and the Social Ladder

There once was a gisaeng, or female musician/entertainer, named Wolmae, who lived in
Namwon, Jeollabuk-do. The gisaeng class, although usually refined and cultured, were
viewed with contempt by the noble and upper classes. Wolmae, eager to escape her low
status, worked her way into the heart of a civil minister, who eventually took her as his
second wife. Wolmae then gave birth to a daughter whom she named Chunhyang, meaning
“scent of spring.”

Some 16 years later, Yi Mong-ryong, the son of the district magistrate, was out for a walk,
taking in the spring beauty, when he spotted a girl on a swing. She was the loveliest sight
he’d ever beheld. Desperate to meet the lovely woman, Mong-ryong sent his servant to
arrange a meeting with her. Although reluctant at first, Chunhyang agreed to meet her suitor
at Gwanghallu Pavilion, a popular leisure spot.

Although Chunhyang remained aloof, Mong-ryong was wholly smitten. He instantly decided
he wanted to marry her, and went to Wolmae to ask for permission. Aware that marrying into
a prestigious family could lead to a better life, Wolmae gave her full approval. Constricting
traditions, however, prevented Mong-ryong from wedding until he passed the civil service
exam. Fortunately, however, Chunhyang eventually saw the sincerity of Mong-ryong’s
passion and fell in love with him. For a sweet, short while, the two lived a happy, peaceful
existence while Mong-ryong studied for his exam.

Then one day, Mong-ryong’s father brought misfortune to the loving couple by getting
promoted to a position in Seoul, requiring him and his family to relocate. Because
Chunhyang was the daughter of a gisaeng, Mong-ryong’s father made it very clear that they
couldn’t risk their family honor by taking her with them. Soaked in tears, Mong-ryong and
Chunhyang embraced each other and said their goodbyes, promising to remain true until their
reunion. Mong-ryong vowed to pass his exams, earn a respectable title and come back to
marry Chunhyang with honor.

Eradicating Injustice
Upon leaving, Mong-ryong’s father was soon replaced by a new magistrate, Byeon Hak-do,
who was greedy and licentious. He ignored his duties and exploited the local population to
feed his private appetites. After witnessing Chunhyang’s beauty, he demanded that she sleep
with him, but she adamantly refused, declaring she had only one true love. Infuriated, Hak-do
tortured her and threw her in prison. After a few months, just as Chunhyang was on the verge
of death, Mong-ryong returned, with a respectful title as he had promised.

Before ousting Hak-do and freeing several political prisoners, he disguised himself as a
homeless man and approached Chunhyang to see how she’d treat him. She was polite and
kind, but made it very clear that she had only one true love. When Mongryong finally
revealed himself, the two lovers kissed and embraced each other, rejoicing in their reunion.
After righting the wrongs of Hak-do, Mong-ryong made Chunhyang his official bride and
took her with him to Seoul, where the king rewarded Mong-ryong’s accomplishments with a
promotion. They lived happily ever after.

A Complex Love Story

Although it’s tempting to view Chunhyangjeon as a simple love story, it has several deeper
themes worth exploring, including social mobility amid a Confucian class system,
punishment of the corrupt, humanity’s earnest desire for untainted, everlasting love, and
feminine resistance to male lechery. As it was a “bestseller” in its day, Chunhyangjeon can be
seen as the literary projection of desires among the Joseon people for social and political
change: a love story with hidden themes of subversion. A true classic, indeed.