Sample Translations
Won Seok Kim Honey Dog E ng l i s h
Book Information
Honey Dog (꿀 똥강아지) Jaram Publishing corp. / 7 p. For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772
This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
Honey Dog Written by Kim Won Seok, Illustrated by Lee Jin Gyeong
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Forward Hidden Wisdom and Wit in Folk Tales Many of Korea’s folk stories have a sense of humor about them. But there is insight behind the laughter – the kind that helps us get through the challenges in our lives. It is wisdom that cannot be learned from text books or picked up while watching television. Honey Dog is a compilation of folk stories that will make readers laugh. Hopefully they will also get more than just a good laugh out of the book. Medicine in a capsule is much easier to swallow. Lessons that are forced are likely to take the joy out of learning. A little bitterness is inevitable in the journey of life. Why not package it in a capsule called wisdom? Maybe the hardships we encounter when the going gets tough will become easier to swallow. The folk stories have more depth than they may seem to have. Wisdom comes in many different forms, some of which are inconspicuous. Learn the wise ways of old-time Koreans through folk tales. If you ask yourself what it is you can learn from such stories, it will be much more helpful to grasp the hidden messages while you read Honey Dog. On a final note, Honey Dog is the revised edition of Taunting Rooster, Angry Yellow Dog.
October 2009
Kim Won Seok
p. 6 Table of Contents
Forward Honey Dog Dog Chases the Chicken Three Liars Who Took the Rice Cake? The Fool and The Mirror Dead Meat The Fake Aristocrat Who is Crazy? Fish Pickle The Fool
p. 9 Honey Dog
A long time ago lived a fabulously wealthy and money-hungry man by the name of Park Seon-dal. Park patrolled the streets with his eyes peeled for any new business opportunity. Whenever he came across something unique, he bought it for a bargain price and stored it in his home.
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The villagers were not exactly fond of Park. Among them was Kim Saeng-won, who downright hated Park Seon-dal for his bottomless greed. Kim was always seeking an opportunity to teach Park a lesson.
p.11 One fine day Kim had a favor to ask his wife. “My dear wife, make me one-hundred rice cakes with honey filling.” Kim’s wife did as she was told. Kim ran a thread through each of the rice cakes and hung them up on the branches of the persimmon tree in his backyard. With one-hundred sweet rice cakes hanging from its branches, the tree looked like a magnificent honey rice cake tree. When this set up was complete, Kim invited Park over for a game of chess. After a while, when both men felt like a snack, Kim called his wife over. “My dear wife, we are both a little hungry. Would you be so kind as to pick some honey rice cakes for us?”
p. 12 ‘Did I hear right? Pick honey rice cakes?’ Park thought he might have misheard Kim but Kim’s wife really did return with a plate full of honey rice cakes. “Here, have some cake. This is fresh off our honey rice cake tree.” Park took a bite out of a honey rice cake. With round eyes, Park said, “This is delicious. Are you telling me these came from a tree?” “Yes. I have a honey rice cake tree right in my backyard.”
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“I’ve never seen or heard of a honey rice cake tree.” Park’s eyes were sparkling with curiosity. Kim went on, “Why don’t I show you our backyard?”
p.13 Kim took Park to the persimmon tree. He picked one of the rice cakes hanging from a branch. “Here, have a taste.”
He handed the rice cake to Park. “What do you say? Just like
the ones on the plate, I presume?” “It really did come from a tree! My goodness how…….?” Park was astonished. “Sell this honey rice cake tree to me. I will pay you anything you wish.” Park Sun-dal was eager to add this odd tree to his collection back home. But no matter how much he begged, Kim refused. A few days later, Kim had another great idea. He got a little puppy and fed it nothing but honey for three days. Whenever the dog had to poo, nothing but pure honey came out of it. Of course, you should never try this at home. Kim invited Park over again. “My dear wife, bring out the honey dog. I want to treat my friend with something special.” Kim’s wife brought the honey puppy, bowl, and a spoon. Kim held the bowl under the puppy’s tail with one hand and pressed its stomach with the other. Believe it or not, golden honey came out of the dog. “Taste it. It’s real honey!” Kim handed a spoon full of sweet sticky honey to Park.
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“How could honey come from a dog?” Park only looked at the honey but would not eat it. “Go ahead. It’s the real thing.” Park could not believe his eyes. Kim took a big scoop out of the bowl and swallowed it in one big gulp. “Mmm, it’s so sweet. There’s nothing like it.” Park was finally convinced enough to try some himself.
p. 17 “This really is honey!” Park was delighted. “Of course! There is nothing sweeter.” “Kim, my friend, I will pay you a hefty sum for this dog. I always have guests over at my house. This will make a great conversation starter!” Kim said no at first, but Park was persistent. Kim finally gave up the dog for a great price. Park paid up and went home with the dog in his arms. As soon as he got home, Park fed it plenty of meat to make sure it produced enough honey. Park was itching to show his new honey dog off to the townspeople. He organized a big party and invited everyone he could. “It’s very unlike Mr. Penny Pincher to throw a party.” The townspeople thought it was odd, but plenty of people showed up at the party. p. 18 “You! Bring me my honey dog. I want to treat my guests,” Park yelled out to his wife
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so that everyone could hear. “Honey dog? What’s that?” “You wait and see.” Park said with a big grin on his face. Park’s wife brought the puppy, bowl, and a spoon. “Now, watch what happens.” Park held the bowl under the puppy’s tail with one hand and squeezed its stomach with the other. The poor puppy started to yelp. “Yelp! Yelp!” An unpleasant odor spread across the room. “Now, take a look at this.” Park squeezed the puppy’s stomach even harder. Sticky, gooey, steaming poop filled the bowl.
p.20 The people at the party were disgusted. “It smells!” “I’m going to hold my breath!” They pinched their noses and drew back. “How is that honey when it’s obviously poo?” Park was convinced it was honey. He was so sure of himself that he was determined to prove everyone wrong. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. This dog makes honey with whatever it eats. Give it a try!” He took a big spoonful of dung and shoved it at an unwilling guest. Park really
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believed the dog was making honey. “What’s wrong with you!? Have you gone mad? How could this be honey?” The angry guest slapped Park across the face.
p. 21 The crowd dispersed with everyone murmuring how Park had gone insane. Park finally realized what had happened and sniffed at the brown goo on his spoon. It really was smelly dog poo, not honey!
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