Basic Info.

​Long ago in the heavens, Jiknyeo, the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, was granted permission to marry under one condition: she must continue her work diligently even after marriage. Jiknyeo married Gyeonwoo, a humble shepherd, and the two fell deeply in love. However, after their marriage, they became so engrossed in each other that they began to neglect their duties. Enraged by their disregard for their responsibilities, the Heavenly Emperor separated them, placing them on opposite sides of the Milky Way. He decreed that they could meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. On this day, crows and magpies form a bridge with their bodies to allow the lovers to reunite.​

Additional Info.

​"The Tale of Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo" is a romantic legend explaining the origins of the Milky Way. Jiknyeo, the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, marries Gyeonwoo, a shepherd, on the condition that they continue working diligently after marriage. However, their love causes them to neglect their duties, angering the emperor. He separates them on opposite sides of the Milky Way, allowing them to meet only once a year on Chilseok (the seventh day of the seventh lunar month). On that day, magpies and crows form a bridge, known as Ojakgyo, for the couple to reunite.​

Key Characters:

​"Gyeonwoo: A shepherd who falls in love with Jiknyeo and faces the consequences of their forbidden love. Jiknyeo: The Heavenly Emperor’s daughter who endures separation to meet her beloved once a year. Cultural Note: The magpies and crows in the story are said to lose their feathers while forming the bridge, symbolizing selfless devotion."​​