Introduction

Throughout history, love stories have captivated audiences with their tales of
passion, sacrifice, and triumph. The love story of SriRatna, also known as Hwang-ok,
and Kim Suro the King of Gaya Kingdom, are one of the known legends of "The
Land of the Morning Calm’’, Korea. The story presents a unique and complex
portrayal of love that challenges traditional societal norms and expectations. This
ancient tale is steeped in cultural and historical significance. It is not only one of
romance but also explores the themes of fate and destiny and the power of love to
bring about unity and change. It also delves into the impact of political and societal
structures on the expression of love. As well as the story of Psyche and Cupid, also
known as Eros and Psyche, is one of the most enduring and beloved love stories in
Greek mythology. The story is rich with symbolism and explores themes of beauty,
jealousy, sacrifice, and the power of love to overcome even the greatest obstacles.

The author of the story titled Sri Ratna & Kim Suro (The Legend of an Indian
Princess in Korea) was N. Parthasarathi. He is a 30-year veteran of the Indian
Diplomatic Corps, having served as Ambassador of India to the Republic of South
Korea. He has also served as a diplomat in countries such as Belgium, Senegal,
Pakistan, United Kingdom, and Syria. In addition to his diplomatic roles,
Parthasarathi has worked in New Delhi for the Ministry of External Affairs and the
Ministry of Finance's Department of Economic Affairs. He holds a mechanical
engineering degree from Mysore University and an MBA and post-graduate diploma
in industrial management from Bangalore University in India. For more than three
decades, he has been involved with efforts to promote the interests of India’s
Commerce and industry. He is married to Mrs.Geeta Parthasarathi. She is a qualified
teacher and a law graduate. She taught in schools including in an American school.
She has been involved in organizing major cultural events, book groups and a
number of charity fundraisers.

To give you some guide, as we are going to dig deeper from the tale, let us
know the drama personae and their roles:

SriRatna is a Princess of Ayodyha, daughter of King Padmasen and Queen

Indumati; she is later called Queen Heo-Hwang-ok (허황옥 in Hangul), as it is the
first description of Kim Suro to her in his vision. She is tall, has large and beautiful
black eyes and a sculpted body. Her name is composed of two parts: "Heo" (허)
which can be translated as "Golden Light" and "Hwang-ok" (황옥) which can be
translated as "Yellow Jade". Together, the name "Heo Hwang-ok" can be translated
as "Golden Light Yellow Jade '' and is associated with her beauty and wisdom.
Hwang ok is a wise and benevolent goddess who teaches the king and his people
various arts and skills, such as agriculture and the use of iron.
Satyamuni, the sage and the one who saved the life of King Padmasen also the one
that forecasted the future of their soon-to-be daughter. The one who taught Sriratna
state craft and the finer skills of archery, sword fight, horse riding, chariot racing and
swimming.

King Kim Suro–the destiny of Heo Hwang ok, believed to be a descendent from
heaven by the golden chest and born out of a golden egg together with his five more
siblings; He was the first born among six eggs and the tallest. He's the founder of
Gaya Kingdom with Queen Sriratna. He is also said to have accomplished many
feats and challenges, such as taming wild beasts and building great walls to protect
his people. In the story, King Suro was chosen by the god to rule over the kingdom
as he was believed to have the quality of a founder, he has the wisdom, the
leadership skills, and his ability to bring peace and prosperity to their kingdom.

And just like any other stories, there will always be an anti-hero. Nevertheless, he
still presented character development at the end.

The antagonist of the story is Talhae he was a skilled military leader and a wise ruler
as well for he was able to unify the various tribes and factions in the region, and
establish a strong and powerful kingdom. Kingdom of Silla–one of the three
kingdoms of Korea.

Il-Jin, the closest brother of Suro; one of the six golden eggs. He can transform into
any being and he was the one who flew to look for Sriratna to Ayodhya. He is a
loving brother.

A Short Summary
The story begins at the holy land of Ayodhya in the north of India, where
Princess SriRatna was born and grew up. Her future events are forecasted by the
sage, and King Kim Suro's vision of her in his dream brought up their life to be
aligned. Just like the Greek Goddess, Psyche who suffered from Venus that sets a
series of impossible tasks for Psyche to complete in order to prove her worthiness as
Cupid's wife. During Hwang-ok’s journey to Gaya, she, as well, faced several
challenges. One of the main challenges was the long and treacherous sea voyage
from India to Korea. She also had to contend with the hostility of the people of Gaya,
who were initially skeptical of her arrival and her foreign origins. Despite these
obstacles, Hwangok was able to overcome them with her intelligence, beauty, and
determination, and ultimately became the queen consort of King Suro. The marriage
of Heo Hwang-ok and the king of Silla would have been seen as a way to strengthen
the bond between the two kingdoms, and to bring peace and prosperity to both.The
legend also states that Heo Hwang-ok had several children with the king, and that
her descendants became the rulers of Silla for many generations. The story of Heo
Hwang-ok is still celebrated in Korea today, and she is considered to be a symbol of
the strong and positive influence that foreign cultures can have on a society.
Thesis Statement
Through a close analysis of the characters, symbols, and themes present in
the story of Parthasarathi's "SriRatna (Heo Hwang-ok) and Kim Suro:The Legend of
an Indian Princess in Korea", this paper argues that the said founders or rulers can
be compared to one of the well-known love and adventure story in Greek mythology,
Cupid and Psyche. The story of Psyche in Greek mythology and Heo Hwang-ok in
Korean legend illustrates the common thread of forbidden love and the power of
sacrifices made for it, and highlights the persistence of human desire and the
resilience of love in the face of societal constraints. In their commonalities, Psyche
and Hwang ok are both myths that deal with the theme of a mortal marrying a divine
or immortal being.