The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) on Aug. 12 said 20 traditional folktales and myths appear in 14 textbooks and teacher guides in five Latin American countries. Shown is the cover (left) of the book "Yenniyagi (Old Tales)" and a page featuring the folktale "Kongjwi and Patjwi." (AKS)

By Oh Jung Eun

Traditional Korean folktales and myths have appeared in textbooks in Central and South America.

The Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) on Aug. 12 said 20 such tales are in 14 textbooks and teacher guides in five Latin American countries.

A legend about Park Hyeokgeose, the founder of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.–A.D. 935), in 2016 first appeared in a digital textbook in Guatemala. Four years later, elementary school reading materials featured stories like "The Hare's Liver" and "Heungbu and Nolbu."

The appearance of such tales in South American textbooks began to see momentum in 2024. Argentina published a book of traditional tales and teacher guides featuring seven Korean folktales and three myths, while "Korean Folktales and Myths" in Colombia targeted students in the fourth through sixth grades including the story "The Old Man with a Lump."

Last year, Uruguay added the Argentine publication "Yenniyagi (Old Tales)" to its national integrated digital library Biblioteca Pais, offering 10 Korean folktales and founding myths free to the public. 

This year, El Salvador compiled four Korean folktales into a teacher material collection.

Every year, the AKS invites textbook experts from abroad to Korea to promote Korean history, culture and educational materials.

"We will see to it that diverse content going beyond Korean history and economy to include traditional and contemporary culture is incorporated into educational settings worldwide," it said.

cloveroh@korea.kr