✦ A Korean Folktale ✦
Heungbu and Nolbu
흥부와 놀부 · Heungbu wa Nolbu
The swallow's leg and the magic gourd
The story
The tale of Heungbu and Nolbu
Of two brothers, kindhearted Heungbu was poor and greedy Nolbu was rich. One day Heungbu saved a swallow with a broken leg. The next spring the swallow returned with a magic gourd seed — and inside the grown gourd were silks and treasure. When Nolbu tried the same trick by deliberately breaking a swallow's leg, dokkaebi tumbled out of his gourd and taught him a lesson.
한국어로 읽기
두 형제 흥부와 놀부 중 마음 착한 흥부는 가난하게 살았고, 욕심 많은 놀부는 부자였어요. 어느 날 흥부가 다친 제비 다리를 고쳐 살려보냈는데, 이듬해 제비가 박씨를 가져다줬어요. 박이 자라 안에서 보물이 나왔죠. 놀부는 따라하려고 일부러 제비 다리를 부러뜨렸지만, 그 박에선 도깨비가 나와 혼이 났답니다.
Origin
Where this tale comes from
A folktale beloved in the Joseon dynasty as both a written story and a pansori song. The contrast between gentle Heungbu and greedy Nolbu teaches kindness as its own reward.
조선시대에 글과 판소리(노래) 모두로 사랑받은 옛이야기예요. 마음씨 좋은 흥부와 욕심 많은 놀부의 대비를 통해 착하게 살자는 가르침을 줘요.
Vocabulary
Korean words you'll meet in "Heungbu and Nolbu"
- 흥부Heungbu/HUNG-boo/
The younger brother's name — has a feeling of "cheerful and warm" in Korean.
- 놀부Nolbu/NOHL-boo/
The elder brother's name — hints at "someone who only wants to play and indulge."
- 제비jebi/JEH-bee/
A small bird that flies to Korea each spring — believed to bring good fortune.
- 박bak/BAHK/
A round gourd grown on traditional thatched roofs — famous in folktales for hiding treasure inside.
- 박씨bakssi/BAHK-ssee/
A gourd seed — plant it and a gourd vine grows.
Scenes
Color each moment of the story
This folktale becomes a 5-page coloring storybook in the app. Two of these pages branch — you choose which path the story takes.
Two Brothers
Long ago in a small village lived two brothers — greedy elder Nolbu and kindhearted younger Heungbu. Nolbu was rich but stingy; Heungbu was poor but warm of heart. One spring, a swallow builds a nest under a roof. Whose story shall we follow?
The Injured Swallow
A baby swallow falls from Heungbu's eaves and breaks its tiny leg. Heungbu cradles it carefully. What should he do?
Nolbu's Greed
Hearing Heungbu grew rich from a magic gourd seed, Nolbu catches a swallow under his eaves and deliberately breaks its leg, planning to "heal" it and earn the same reward. As he wraps the leg, his hand pauses. What will he do?
Treasure from the Gourd · 🎁 The Magic Gourd ending
The next spring, the swallow returned with a single gourd seed. He planted it carefully, and from the great gourd that grew, silks and gold coins tumbled out. Heungbu's yard filled with neighbors at a great feast.
A Lesson from the Gourd · 🌱 The Lesson ending
The next spring, the swallow brought a gourd seed. As the great gourd was sawn open, dokkaebi tumbled out and gently shook loose his greedy heart. There was no treasure inside, but slowly a corner of Nolbu's heart began to warm.
Our version
What's different in the app
The original gives Heungbu treasure and punishes Nolbu with dokkaebi. Our version lets you walk in either brother's shoes — even Nolbu can choose to change his heart.
원작은 흥부에게 보물, 놀부에게 도깨비의 벌이라는 분명한 결말이에요. 우리 버전은 흥부와 놀부 둘 다 시점이 되어보고, 놀부도 마음을 바꿀 기회를 만들었어요.
Color your way through Heungbu and Nolbu
Free · bilingual · branching endings · no sign-up · printable PDF when you finish.
🎨 Start coloring →
