MADE BY: JEFF HWANG

Korean Mythologys Modern Influence

Mythology from all around the world continues to shape the present. Even the least popular
should not be neglected as they contribute to the beliefs and behaviors of the present world. Specifically,
this is true in South Korea where Korean mythology has had a great impact in the country's modern
society. Many have heard of the names, Hercules and Zeus, but in South Korea, names like Hwanung and
Chumong are equally important. Moreover, people living in the Capital City of Seoul may constantly
encounter references to ancient Korean mythological characters, such as Bari Degi, a girl who travelled to
the afterlife in order to find a cure for her parents. This is just one example of how the influence of
Korean mythology is present in modern South Korea. Korean mythology is composed of folk tales and
legends which were told all over the Korean Peninsula. The myths told the stories of Deities called Shin,
spirits, and exemplary humans. Furthermore, these stories covered the creation of Earth, family love,
spirits returning from the afterlife, and others exciting the imagination of the listeners. Although they are
no longer told as often, they continue to have a strong influence in the country by greatly shaping the
country's culture and entertainment, religion and rituals, and traditional arts.

To start with, the impact of Korean mythology can be clearly seen in the countrys culture and
entertainment. First, the way some parents raise their children is based on the principles found in Korean
myths. Many of those stories outline a specific way of raising children and parents today still follow these
methods. For example, the story "Three Brothers of Samdaesung" is about three brothers who were
destined to fight an evil dragon that had occupied the ocean and take back the sun. Their mother raised
them to lead independent lives and she eventually let her children go in order to strengthen them in
winning the battle by themselves. In fact, Kim, Yeon, and Lee (n.d.) state that "it's possible to find
everywhere in the story that the mother taught the three sons to lead an independent life without relying
on anyone else. In the myths, the parent characters encouraged their children's will for independence or
taught them to show what they could do by using some symbolic signs" (p.4). This has influenced modern
independent rearing of children as parents encourage their children to independently carry out their tasks.
Similarly, Korean mythology has also influenced a Korean tradition done during Chuseok, a holiday to
honor dead ancestors. On this day, families eat Songpyeon, a type of rice cake. According to Neff (2016),
"the wrapping of Songpyeon resembles a full moon, but once the stuffing is placed inside and folded, it
takes on the appearance of a half moon (para.11). This tradition is based on the myth about two cities
locked in battle. Initially, a turtle was discovered with strange markings upon its back. Based on these
markings, the prophets determined that the City of Silla would be the half moon, while the City of Baekje
would be the full moon. Then, they predicted that the half moon would defeat the full moon. In the end,
Silla defeated Baekje. As such, the half-moon became a symbol of a bright successful future, which is
why Songpyeon is shaped that way. Thus, every time South Koreans eat Songpyeon, they are actually
hoping to achieve the same success that the City of Silla had. In addition, Korean myths are present in
various Korean media and entertainment. One highlight is the novel "Gilded", which uses Korean
mythology as part of its plot, while setting the story in the modern world. In the novel, a Korean demigod
Haemosu had been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in the protagonist's family
for centuries. The protagonist discovered that she was next, thus she set out on an adventure to find a way
to avoid her fate. All of these examples show that ancient myths are still capable of capturing the attention
of modern audiences in the present.

Korean mythology has also considerably influenced certain religions and rituals in South Korea.
In Buddhism, the tiger is considered a sacred animal. In fact, it is one of the semi-divine protectors of
Buddhist laws. The tigers importance in Buddhism can be traced back to an ancient Korean myth.
According to Schumacher (n.d.), "the semi-god Hwanung of Korea who chose among a tiger and a bear,
eventually decided for the bear. The child of this couple was Dangun, the mythical ancestor of all
Koreans" (para.5). Thus, the tiger became a revered figure in Buddhism as tiger statues and carvings can
be seen in various Buddhist temples all over South Korea. Another evidence of this influence is the
continuous belief of many in Shamanism. Shamans were the priests who were able to communicate with
the Shin and ancestors. In Korean myths, the people regularly consulted with Shamans to receive favor
from the spirits. To be more specific, the article "Religion in Korea" (2015) states that "female shamans
held kut, or services, in order to gain good fortune for clients, cure illnesses by exorcising evil spirits, or
propitiate local or village gods. Such services are also held to guide the spirit of a deceased person to
heaven" (para.7). Today, some individuals still consult Shamans and other spiritual advisors regarding the
best dates for weddings, their compatibility with their partners, and their potential success in business.
These are just some ways how ancient mythology continues to shape religion in current societies.

Lastly, Korean mythology has also shaped Korean traditional arts. For instance, the "Korea
Gyeongju World Traditional Wind Instrument Festival Manpasikjeok", where musicians play various wind
instruments, comes from the myth of Manpasikjeok. According to the article "The Legend of
Manpasikjeok" (2012), "Manpasikjeok is a kind of transverse flute from a Silla legend. Manpasikjeok
means a flute that calms down a lot of waves'. The many waves imply the anxieties that plague humans
such as war, disease, flood, and drought" (para.1). Thus, the name of the festival associates its instruments
and music with the high value of Manpasikjeok. Another musical art with a connection to Korean myth is
Pansori, a Korean cultural form of song and dance that retells old Korean myths. For example,
Shimchung is a well-known story of a blind man and his daughter. In the story, the daughter died, but she
was allowed to return to the world in the form of a lotus, which was taken to the palace. She emerged
from the lotus and the King fell in love with her. Then, they had a banquet for all the blind men in the
Kingdom. When the father was seen and touched by his daughter, he could see again. Through Pansori,
modern generations get to hear and appreciate ancient Korean myths like this. Aside from music, images
of Korean mythology are visible in Minhwa. This is a traditional form of painting with themes similar to
those found in Korean mythology. Both deal with subjects like the divinity of animals and the importance
of nature. In Minhwa, animals are commonly portrayed as divine in nature and close to the sky. One
famous painting depicts a tiger, which is an important mythological figure in the story of the semi-god
Hwanung. The article "Minhwa" (n.d.) describes the tiger that often came down to human villages to eat
livestock and even harm people. It was both feared and respected, given the nickname prince of the
mountain" (para.1). In summary, knowledge of Korean mythology paves way for a deeper appreciation of
these works as the themes become evident. They also reveal ideas of mythology in modern paintings and
how artists place great importance in these mythological themes.

Without a doubt, Korean mythology is a powerful force that is continually shaping South Korean
society. This is evident in its lasting presence in culture and entertainment, religion and rituals, and
traditional arts of South Korea. In fact, the influence of mythology is one of the keys to the unique
personality of Korean culture. It continues to excite the minds of modern audiences and truly serves as an
important part of Korean identity. In general, mythology allows people to study and appreciate the
behavioral and psychological patterns of different cultures by making sense of life and the world that they
live in. It has greatly shaped different parts of the world over the years and it will continue to shape the
world in the future. Even as society continues to move forward, the timeless quality of mythology ensures
that it will continue to be a major influence for as long as society exists. More importantly, people should
reflect thoroughly on how mythology has affected their own culture in order to help them discover their
unique cultural identity and value in this world.
 References

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