Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Yong Tu and the King's Plant Seeds: A Korean Folktale About Honesty

Yong Tu and the King's Plant Seeds: A Korean Folktale About Honesty

Chapter 1: The King's Wish

Long, long ago, there stood a great kingdom ruled by a wise king. Yet despite all his riches and power, the king carried a heavy sadness in his heart. He had no son. All of his children were daughters, and more than anything, he longed for a son to raise and one day pass his throne to.

But it was not just any son the king wished for. He wanted a boy with a good and honest heart, someone worthy of leading the kingdom after him.

Troubled by this wish, the king called his most trusted advisors to the palace.

The King: "I long for a son, one whose heart is filled with honesty. But how am I to find such a boy among all my people?"

Chief Advisor: "Your Majesty, why not hold a grand competition? Let the young men of the kingdom compete, and through it, we shall discover who is truly honest at heart."

The king considered this advice carefully, and a plan began to form in his mind — a clever test that would reveal the truth hidden within each young man's heart.

Chapter 2: The Strange Seeds

Soon, word spread across the land: the king was holding a very special competition. Every young man was invited to the palace, where each received a seed planted in a small pot of soil. Whoever grew the finest, most beautiful plant would be chosen as the king's adopted son and heir.

Excitement swept through the kingdom. Hundreds of young men rushed to the palace, eager for the chance to become a prince.

Among the crowd of hopeful youths stood a humble village boy named Yong Tu. Like the others, he too received a small pot with a seed already planted inside.

The king stood before them all and spoke with a solemn voice.

The King: "My people, take great care of this seed. Nurture it well, and let it grow into a strong and beautiful plant. When the appointed day comes, bring your plants back to me. Whoever has cared for their plant best shall become my adopted son and heir to this kingdom!"

Yong Tu bowed respectfully and carried his little pot home, his heart full of hope and determination.

Chapter 3: A Seed That Would Not Grow

Back at home, Yong Tu treated the seed as though it were the most precious thing in the world. Every morning, he watered it gently. Every evening, he checked on it, whispering encouragement as if the little seed could hear him.

But day after day, nothing happened. Weeks passed. A whole month went by. Still, no sprout, no leaf, not even the smallest sign of life poked through the soil.

Yong Tu's mother noticed how troubled her son had become and offered some advice.

Mother: "Yong Tu, perhaps the pot is too small for the seed to grow properly. Why not try replanting it in a larger container?"

Hoping this might solve the mystery, Yong Tu carefully moved the soil and seed into a bigger pot. He watered it just as faithfully as before. Yet still, the seed refused to grow.

Yong Tu felt his heart sink with disappointment. He had tried everything he could think of, and yet he had nothing to show for his efforts — only an empty pot of dark soil.

Chapter 4: The Long Walk to the Palace

At last, the day of the competition arrived. With a heavy heart, Yong Tu prepared to leave for the palace. Before setting off, he turned to his mother one last time.

Yong Tu: "Mother, I must go now. But my seed never grew, no matter how hard I tried. I am ashamed to bring only an empty pot before the king."

His mother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and smiled warmly.

Mother: "Do not be ashamed, my son. What matters most is that you truly tried your best. That is something no one can take from you."

Comforted by her words, Yong Tu set out for the palace, carrying his plain pot of soil.

When he arrived, he saw dozens of other young men proudly holding pots overflowing with lush, beautiful plants — tall stems, bright flowers, and thick green leaves. Compared to theirs, Yong Tu's empty pot looked pitiful indeed.

Some of the boys noticed him and began to laugh.

A Young Man: "Ha! Look at Yong Tu's pot — nothing but dirt! Do you really think the king will want that as his son?"

Another Young Man: "Poor Yong Tu, such rotten luck! The king will surely be disappointed in you!"

Their laughter echoed across the courtyard, but Yong Tu said nothing. He simply lowered his head and waited quietly, holding on to his mother's words.

Chapter 5: The King's Judgment

Soon, all the young men gathered in a wide field before the palace. The king walked slowly along the rows, examining each plant one by one. Yet the more pots he inspected, the more troubled his expression became.

Finally, in the very last row, standing quietly and alone, he found Yong Tu — the only boy holding an empty pot.

The king approached him gently.

The King: "Why do you look so sad, young man? Where is your plant?"

Yong Tu: "Your Majesty, I cared for this seed with all my heart, watering it every single day. But no matter what I did, it simply would not grow. I could not bring myself to lie to you, so I brought only what truly grew in my pot — nothing at all."

Upon hearing this, the king's face slowly brightened into a warm, proud smile.

The King: "At last... I have found the one who shall be my adopted son!"

A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. No one could believe what they had just heard.

Chapter 6: The Truth Revealed

One of the young men, confused and upset, stepped forward to protest.

A Young Man: "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but how can you choose someone who failed to grow anything at all? Not a single plant grew in his pot!"

The king looked out over the crowd and let out a knowing laugh before explaining.

The King: "Let me tell you a secret. Every seed I handed out that day had first been boiled. Not one of them could ever have sprouted — no matter how much love or care was given. This was never truly a contest of gardening... it was a test of honesty."

Silence fell over the field. One by one, the young men realized the truth — in their desperation to win, they had secretly swapped their pots for ones filled with other plants, hoping no one would notice their deception. Now, their dishonesty stood exposed before the entire kingdom.

Only Yong Tu, who had told the truth even when it seemed to cost him everything, stood without shame.

Chapter 7: The Honest Prince

And so, Yong Tu became the king's adopted son. He was brought to live in the palace, where he was carefully trained and educated to one day become a wise and capable ruler.

Yet even as he grew into his new role, Yong Tu never forgot the honesty that had brought him there. He remained kind, humble, and truthful, earning the love and respect of everyone in the kingdom — from the palace guards to the common villagers.

And that is the story of Yong Tu and the King's Plant Seeds, a beloved folktale from Korea. The lesson it teaches us is simple yet powerful: honesty always leads to good fortune, while lies and deceit only bring trouble in the end.

We hope you enjoyed this story!

Want to experience Yong Tu's dilemma firsthand? Play the interactive game below! Tend your seed, face the other youths' taunts, and prove that honesty always wins — complete with voice narration and an Indonesian/English language option.
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