Basic Info.

​When the Dragon King of the Dragon Palace in the southern sea of the Korean peninsula falls ill, he orders a softshell turtle, Byeoljubu, to climb the mountain and retrieve a rabbit's liver, believed to be an elixir capable of curing his illness. Byeoljubu deceives the rabbit and takes him to the Dragon Palace. However, the rabbit, realizing the situation, cleverly outsmarts Byeoljubu and escapes back to the mountains.​

Additional Info.

​"The Tale of the Rabbit" is a traditional Korean folktale. When the Dragon King of Yonggung Palace in the southern sea of the Korean peninsula falls ill, he is told that a rabbit’s liver is the only cure. A turtle named Byeoljubu is tasked with retrieving the rabbit's liver. Byeoljubu tricks the rabbit into coming to the underwater palace, but the rabbit quickly realizes the plot and uses his wit to escape back to the mountains.​

Key Characters:

​Rabbit: A clever and quick animal who uses his wits to outsmart the turtle and escape. Byeoljubu (Turtle): A cunning turtle sent by the Dragon King to retrieve the rabbit’s liver. Dragon King: The ruler of Yonggung Palace, who believes that the rabbit’s liver is a miraculous cure for his illness. Cultural Note: This story is often confused with Aesop's fable "The Tortoise and the Hare." While both feature a rabbit and a turtle-like creature, "The Tale of the Rabbit" is an Eastern tale that emphasizes wit and survival, whereas "The Tortoise and the Hare" is a Western tale about perseverance and humility.​​