Rabbit's liver

The next series of folk tale stamps were printed two months later, in November 1969. It featured the story of the rabbit's liver. Also known as the Byeoljubujeon or the Toggijeon, the tale begins with the daughter of the sea king falling ill. In search of a rabbit's liver to cure her disease, the king's servant, a turtle, brings a rabbit from dry land to the king's underwater palace.

In fear for his life, the rabbit falsely leads the sea king's court to believe that his liver has already been extracted, washed, dried and left on land. So the turtle sets out to deliver the rabbit back to the land and to retrieve his liver. Since the rabbit is more agile than the turtle on land, however, he manages to escape from the sea king's grasp.

The tale is also featured in the Song of the Underwater Palace, or the Sugung-ga, one of the five existing traditional pansori songs.

Unlike in Aesop's fables, where the hard-working tortoise beats the hare in a race due to the latter's less-than-smart idea to take a nap, this story takes the side of the rabbit who is quick witted enough to get out of danger.

The folk tale stamps printed on November 1, 1969, feature the tale of the rabbit's liver. (From left) The sea king's daughter falls ill and requires the liver of a rabbit to cure her. The turtle carries a rabbit on his back to the underwater palace. The rabbit finds an excuse to return to dry land. The rabbit bids the turtle goodbye after safely reaching land. (images courtesy of Korea Post)

By Paik Hyun
Korea.net Staff Writer
cathy@korea.kr