혹부리 영감The Old Man with a Wen

The Tale of the Old Man with a Wen (Hokburi Yeonggam) is a quintessential Korean folk tale that explores the core principles of moral causality, the dangers of envy, and the power of joyful sincerity. Rooted deeply in the oral traditions of rural Korea, the story centers around a kind-hearted old man and his envious neighbor, both bearing a large wen (tumor) on their cheeks. Through a whimsical encounter with Dokkaebi (Korean goblins), the narrative juxtaposes pure artistic passion against artificial greed. It serves as an accessible moral compass, illustrating how a person’s inner disposition shapes their outer destiny and reminding audiences that wealth cannot be gained through cheap imitation.

옛날 어느 고을에 얼굴에 커다란 혹이 달린 마음씨 착한 영감이 살고 있었습니다. 영감은 혹 때문에 모양새는 좀 우스꽝스러웠지만, 늘 긍정적이고 노래 부르는 것을 무척 좋아했습니다. 어느 날 산에 나무를 하러 갔다가 날이 저물어 깊은 산속 빈집에서 하룻밤을 묵게 된 영감은 무서움을 달래기 위해 흥겹게 노래를 부르기 시작했습니다.

Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a kind-hearted old man with a large wen on his cheek. Although the wen made him look rather comical, he was always positive and loved to sing. One day, while cutting wood in the mountains, it grew dark, and he had to spend the night in an abandoned house. To soothe his fear, the old man began to sing a delightful and joyful song.

신나게 노래를 부르던 영감 앞에 갑자기 한 무리의 도깨비들이 나타났습니다. 도깨비들은 영감의 아름다운 노랫가락에 반해 덩실덩실 춤을 추며 물었습니다. "노인장, 대체 그 아름다운 소리는 어디서 나오는 것이오?" 영감은 얼떨결에 뺨에 달린 혹을 가리키며 "이 혹에서 나오는 춤과 노래라오"라며 둘러댔습니다. 도깨비들은 보물 방망이를 줄 테니 그 혹을 자신들에게 팔라고 제안했고, 영감의 혹을 아프지 않게 떼어간 뒤 금은보화를 잔뜩 주고 사라졌습니다.

As he sang merrily, a group of Dokkaebi (Korean goblins) suddenly appeared. Enchanted by the old man's beautiful melody, the goblins danced along and asked, "Old man, where does that beautiful sound come from?" In his confusion, the old man pointed to the wen on his cheek and muttered, "It comes from this very wen." The goblins proposed to buy the wen in exchange for their magic treasure club. They painlessly removed the wen, handed him heaps of gold and silver, and vanished.

혹도 떼고 부자가 되어 돌아온 착한 영감의 소식을 듣고, 이웃 마을에 사는 또 다른 혹부리 영감이 찾아왔습니다. 이 영감은 성품이 고약하고 욕심이 많았는데, 착한 영감의 이야기를 듣고는 자신도 부자가 되겠다며 당장 그 산속 빈집으로 향했습니다. 욕심쟁이 영감은 도깨비들이 나타나기를 기다렸다가 일부러 목청을 높여 노래를 부르기 시작했습니다.

Hearing the news of the kind old man who had returned home wen-free and wealthy, a greedy old man with a wen from a neighboring village came to visit. This man was ill-tempered and full of avarice. Upon hearing the story, he immediately headed to the abandoned house in the mountains, determined to become rich himself. The greedy old man waited for the goblins to appear and intentionally began to sing at the top of his lungs.

마침내 도깨비들이 나타났고, 욕심쟁이 영감은 꾀를 내어 "이 혹이 바로 노랫가락이 나오는 보물 주머니요"라며 거짓말을 했습니다. 하지만 이미 한번 속았던 도깨비들은 크게 분노했습니다. "이 고약한 노인네가 우리를 또 속이려 드는구나! 지난번 혹에서도 노래는 나오지 않았다!" 화가 난 도깨비들은 방망이를 휘둘러 착한 영감에게서 떼어냈던 혹을 욕심쟁이 영감의 반대쪽 뺨에 철썩 붙여버렸습니다. 결국 욕심쟁이 영감은 부자가 되기는커녕 혹을 하나 더 붙인 채 울면서 집으로 돌아갔습니다.

Finally, the goblins appeared, and the greedy old man craftily lied, "This wen is the treasure pouch where the melodies come from!" However, the goblins, having already been fooled once, became furious. "This wicked old man dares to trick us again! No music came out of the last wen either!" Enraged, the goblins swung their magic clubs and slapped the first old man's wen onto the greedy man's opposite cheek. In the end, instead of becoming rich, the greedy old man went home crying with two wens on his face.

[Background & Origin]

"Hokburi Yeonggam" is a classic Korean folk tale passed down through generations via oral storytelling before being recorded in modern textbooks. The story captures the essence of early Korean agrarian communities, where harmonious coexistence was highly valued and personal greed was seen as a threat to social order. The characters of the Dokkaebi in this tale are distinctively Korean—not purely evil monsters, but whimsical, easily fooled spiritual entities that enforce poetic justice based on human nature.

[Summary & Conclusion]
[Cultural and Philosophical Significance]

At its philosophical core, Hokburi Yeonggam redefines the true meaning of virtue and moral duty. It questions blind devotion to material gain when it lacks universal compassion and righteousness. The first old man’s song, stripped of any hidden agenda, represents pure, uncorrupted joy and authenticity. In contrast, the envious neighbor’s imitation is a dangerous display of superficiality driven by raw avarice. True moral harmony requires an alignment of genuine intent and honesty; the universe, through the playful yet strict judgment of the Dokkaebi, rejects hollow deception.

The contrast between the two men illustrates that genuine wisdom lies in clarity of mind and staying true to one's authentic nature. The first old man did not seek to exploit the goblins, whereas the second attempted a calculated deceit. Ultimately, the story shows that authentic trust and moral obligations must be mutual, and that genuine wisdom will always triumph over the hollow demands of a corrupt mind, proving that greed only multiplies one's burdens.

허망(虛妄)이란 내면에 실질(참된 마음)이 없으면서 겉으로만 꾸미는 것이다. 거짓되고 교묘한 꾀로써 복을 얻고자 한다면, 도리어 일의 기틀을 잃고 재앙이 이르러 마침내 아무것도 이루지 못하느니라.
False fabrication (Heomang) means having no substance within while decorating the exterior. If one desires to obtain blessings through deceit and crafty tricks, he will instead lose the trigger and invite calamity, ultimately accomplishing nothing.

참전계경(參佺戒經) 제3단 이(理) - 제7망(妄) 계열 - 제137조 허망(虛妄)
Chamjeongegyeong (The Scripture of Divine Covenant), Part 3 Ri - Clause 137 Heomang (False Fabrications)