{"content_id":"3dwjdjwgdd","slug":"hokburi-yeonggam-story-origins-and-endings","locale":"en","schema_type":"Article","category":"story","category_name":"Tales","title":"The Old Man with a Lump: Two Endings and Origins","summary":"Retells the story of an old man who hands his lump over to dokkaebi and another who copies him but ends up with an extra lump. Distinguishes oral records from Dangjin from the tale's publication history, and explains debates over its origins and the structure of imitation tales.","sponsorship_disclosure":null,"affiliate_disclosure":null,"commerce_disclosure":null,"author":{"name":"Injoys Editorial Team","url":"https://injoys.com/ko/about"},"key_points":["The first old man hands his lump over to dokkaebi, but the man who copies him gets one more lump.","A tale of the same type was recorded in Songsan-myeon, Dangjin-gun, on November 10, 1979.","The recording date is the day the tale was documented, not the day it first came into being.","The contrast between the two old men is less a distinction between good and evil than a difference between the one who acted first and the one who copied him.","Oral transmission in Korea alone cannot confirm either the theory that the tale is indigenous to Korea or the theory that it was adopted from Japan."],"content_markdown":"The Old Man with a Lump tells of an old man who passed his lump on to a dokkaebi after it heard him sing. Another old man who copied him gained an extra lump. This retelling of the traditional folktale draws on a version recorded in Dangjin in 1979.\n\nThis article was prepared in November 2026, based on a version in *The Comprehensive Collection of Korean Oral Literature*.\n\n## Plot of The Old Man with a Lump\n\nOne old man passed his lump on to dokkaebi, while another who copied him gained an extra lump. The story below retells the basic plot of the traditional tale in new words. It is not a verbatim transcription of any particular storyteller’s account.\n\nAn old man happened to encounter some dokkaebi. When he sang, the dokkaebi listened closely. As the song continued, their eyes remained fixed on his lump.\n\nThe dokkaebi wondered where the sound came from. The old man pointed to his lump and made up a story that the singing came from inside it. The dokkaebi thought that if they owned the lump, they too would gain the song.\n\nThe dokkaebi gave the old man riches and took his lump. When he touched his face, the lump was gone. After this unexpected exchange, he gathered up his riches and returned home.\n\nA neighboring old man who heard the news also had a lump. He planned to get rid of it in the same way. He sought out the dokkaebi and began to sing.\n\nWhen the dokkaebi asked where the sound came from, he too pointed to his lump. This time, however, their reaction was different. They grew angry and called his claim a lie.\n\nThe dokkaebi attached the lump they had taken earlier to the second old man. Instead of having his lump removed, he returned home with an extra one. He had repeated the same words, but the same good fortune did not follow.\n\n## Sources and Origins\n\nThis story is based on an oral record, not an original manuscript by a single author. Oral transmission means passing stories from person to person by word of mouth. Recording oral accounts means listening to those words and preserving them in writing or audio.\n\n### An Oral Account Recorded in Dangjin\n\n*The Comprehensive Collection of Korean Oral Literature* includes “The Tale of Trying to Remove a Lump but Gaining One.” The results portal’s catalog lists a fieldwork record from Songsan-myeon, Dangjin-gun. The storyteller is the person who told the story, not necessarily its creator.\n\n| Item | Confirmed details |\n| --- | --- |\n| Title | The Tale of Trying to Remove a Lump but Gaining One |\n| Fieldwork date | November 10, 1979 |\n| Fieldwork location | Songsan-myeon, Dangjin-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, as it was then |\n| Informant | Kim Bong-han |\n| Type of material | An oral history record preserving a story passed down by word of mouth |\n\nThe record can be found in the [oral materials catalog of the Korean Studies Promotion Project Results Portal](https://waks.aks.ac.kr/dir/searchAchieve.aspx?curPage=657\u0026pageSize=20\u0026sType=\u0026sWord=\u0026secType=%EA%B5%AC%EC%88%A0%EC%9E%90%EB%A3%8C\u0026sort=). If there are entries with the same title, compare their fieldwork dates and locations. 1979 is the year the story was recorded, not the year it originated.\n\n### Publication History and the Debate over Origins\n\nThe date a story appeared in print must be distinguished from the date it first arose. The *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture* presents the following publication history. These records provide evidence for tracing how the story spread.\n\n| Publication | Year of inclusion | Significance of the record |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Collection of Joseon Tales* | 1910 | A related story was introduced in print |\n| *Korean Reader* | 1915 | A related story was included in a textbook |\n\nTwo theories are presented about its origins: that it originated in Korea, and that it was adopted from Japan. The Korean-origin theory holds that an existing folktale was used in textbooks during the colonial period. The Japanese-adoption theory focuses on how the story became established through channels such as textbooks.\n\nThe fact that the story was passed down orally in Korea supports its transmission within the country. That fact alone, however, cannot establish which country it first originated in. An outline of the debate appears in the [“The Old Man with a Lump Folktale” entry in the *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture*](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0063887).\n\n## Other Versions and Similar Stories\n\nNames and scenes may vary between versions, but the structure in which the two people meet opposite outcomes remains. In oral folklore, an individually transmitted version is called a “variant.” Details can differ even under the same title.\n\n| Point of comparison | Documented differences | What to distinguish when reading |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Main character’s name | Some variants call him Kim Cheomji or Old Man Choe | One name cannot be treated as the name used in every version |\n| Scene in which the lump changes hands | The bargaining with the dokkaebi is sometimes longer | The details of the exchange may vary by version |\n| Similar folktales | “The Dokkaebi’s Club” also features an imitator’s failure | Even with a similar structure, the characters’ traits and the emphasis differ |\n\nThe *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture* points out a difference from “The Dokkaebi’s Club.” That tale emphasizes the main character’s kindness and devotion to his parents. By contrast, the old man who passes on his lump is not clearly given those traits.\n\nTreating the first old man as a good person from the outset therefore narrows the interpretation. He too deceives the dokkaebi by saying that the song comes from his lump. The difference between the events lies more in the order of the encounters and the other party’s response than in personal character.\n\n## Why the Two Old Men Have Different Endings\n\nThe two old men meet different outcomes because the dokkaebi react differently to the same explanation. At first, they believe the claim that the lump is the source of the singing. The next time, they judge the same claim to be a lie.\n\n| Basis of comparison | The old man they met first | The old man who copied him |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Reason for the encounter | Meets the dokkaebi by chance | Seeks them out after hearing about the first old man |\n| Explanation | Says the singing comes from his lump | Repeats the same explanation |\n| The dokkaebi’s reaction | Believe him and take his lump | Call it a lie and attach another lump |\n| Outcome | Loses his lump and gains riches | Gains an extra lump |\n\nThis structure is called an “imitation tale.” It is a story in which someone copies another person’s actions but gets a different result. Here, an attempt to repeat an earlier success ends in failure.\n\nThe old man who copies the first repeats the words that worked in the first encounter. The dokkaebi, however, have already experienced one such exchange. With this in mind, his imitation can be read as a failure to recognize that the circumstances have changed.\n\nThis interpretation does not imply a rule that all imitation is bad. The folktale repeats similar scenes to highlight the difference in their outcomes. The story’s appeal lies in the failure of the expectation that good fortune can be copied exactly.\n\n## Folklore in the Story\n\nThe dokkaebi in this tale possess both mysterious powers and a certain foolishness. They can move a person’s lump at will. Yet they do not properly understand where the sound of singing comes from.\n\n- The song gives the human and the dokkaebi a reason to speak to one another.\n- Through the dokkaebi’s misunderstanding, the lump becomes an object of trade.\n- The riches show how an encounter with unfamiliar beings turns into good fortune.\n- The repeated encounters reveal the difference between good and bad fortune.\n\nThe removal and attachment of lumps is a fantastical storytelling device. It cannot be read as a record of actual bodily changes or medical treatment. Nor should the outcomes in the story be applied to judgments about real people’s appearance or character.\n\nThe scene in which the old man gains riches reflects a wish for unexpected good fortune. The dokkaebi are not merely frightening beings. Their susceptibility to human trickery creates the story’s humor.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### Did this actually happen?\n\nThis is a traditional folktale, not a verified account of an actual event. The recorded oral account is evidence that someone told the story. It does not prove that a lump actually moved from one person to another.\n\n### Where can I find the original text?\n\nSearch for “The Tale of Trying to Remove a Lump but Gaining One” on the Korean Studies Promotion Project Results Portal. The fieldwork date for the Dangjin record is November 10, 1979. Its fieldwork location distinguishes it from other records with the same title.\n\n### What does this story mean?\n\nIt can be read as an imitation tale in which someone fails while trying to obtain the same good fortune as someone before him. One possible interpretation is that the same actions can produce different results when circumstances change. It is difficult to explain the story solely as a conflict between a good person and a bad person.\n\n### Was the first old man rewarded for being good?\n\nIn the plot examined here, the first old man’s good deeds are not presented as a condition for his reward. He tells the dokkaebi that the singing comes from his lump. It is therefore difficult to judge his character from the ending alone.\n\n### Did the story originate in Korea?\n\nRecords confirm that the story was passed down orally in Korea. Its origins, however, are debated between the Korean-origin theory and the Japanese-adoption theory. The fact that it was recorded in Korea and the question of where it first arose should not be treated as the same issue.\n\n### Was 1915 the year the story was created?\n\n1915 is the year it was included in *Korean Reader*. A related story had also appeared in *Collection of Joseon Tales* in 1910. Neither publication date, by itself, indicates the year the folktale was created.\n\n### Which name is correct, Kim Cheomji or Old Man Choe?\n\nBoth are presented as names used in different variants. Characters’ names and scenes can change through oral transmission. There is no need to apply the name used in one particular book to every version.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe Old Man with a Lump tells of an old man who passed his lump on to a dokkaebi after it heard him sing. Another old man who copied him gained an extra lump. This retelling of the traditional folktale draws on a version recorded in Dangjin in 1979.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis article was prepared in November 2026, based on a version in \u003cem\u003eThe Comprehensive Collection of Korean Oral Literature\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#plot-of-the-old-man-with-a-lump\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"plot-of-the-old-man-with-a-lump\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003ePlot of The Old Man with a Lump\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne old man passed his lump on to dokkaebi, while another who copied him gained an extra lump. The story below retells the basic plot of the traditional tale in new words. It is not a verbatim transcription of any particular storyteller’s account.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old man happened to encounter some dokkaebi. When he sang, the dokkaebi listened closely. As the song continued, their eyes remained fixed on his lump.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dokkaebi wondered where the sound came from. The old man pointed to his lump and made up a story that the singing came from inside it. The dokkaebi thought that if they owned the lump, they too would gain the song.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dokkaebi gave the old man riches and took his lump. When he touched his face, the lump was gone. After this unexpected exchange, he gathered up his riches and returned home.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA neighboring old man who heard the news also had a lump. He planned to get rid of it in the same way. He sought out the dokkaebi and began to sing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the dokkaebi asked where the sound came from, he too pointed to his lump. This time, however, their reaction was different. They grew angry and called his claim a lie.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dokkaebi attached the lump they had taken earlier to the second old man. Instead of having his lump removed, he returned home with an extra one. He had repeated the same words, but the same good fortune did not follow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#sources-and-origins\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"sources-and-origins\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eSources and Origins\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis story is based on an oral record, not an original manuscript by a single author. Oral transmission means passing stories from person to person by word of mouth. Recording oral accounts means listening to those words and preserving them in writing or audio.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#an-oral-account-recorded-in-dangjin\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"an-oral-account-recorded-in-dangjin\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eAn Oral Account Recorded in Dangjin\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Comprehensive Collection of Korean Oral Literature\u003c/em\u003e includes “The Tale of Trying to Remove a Lump but Gaining One.” The results portal’s catalog lists a fieldwork record from Songsan-myeon, Dangjin-gun. The storyteller is the person who told the story, not necessarily its creator.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eItem\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConfirmed details\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Item\"\u003eTitle\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Confirmed details\"\u003eThe Tale of Trying to Remove a Lump but Gaining One\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Item\"\u003eFieldwork date\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Confirmed details\"\u003eNovember 10, 1979\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Item\"\u003eFieldwork location\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Confirmed details\"\u003eSongsan-myeon, Dangjin-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, as it was then\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Item\"\u003eInformant\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Confirmed details\"\u003eKim Bong-han\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Item\"\u003eType of material\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Confirmed details\"\u003eAn oral history record preserving a story passed down by word of mouth\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe record can be found in the \u003ca href=\"https://waks.aks.ac.kr/dir/searchAchieve.aspx?curPage=657\u0026amp;pageSize=20\u0026amp;sType=\u0026amp;sWord=\u0026amp;secType=%EA%B5%AC%EC%88%A0%EC%9E%90%EB%A3%8C\u0026amp;sort=\"\u003eoral materials catalog of the Korean Studies Promotion Project Results Portal\u003c/a\u003e. If there are entries with the same title, compare their fieldwork dates and locations. 1979 is the year the story was recorded, not the year it originated.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#publication-history-and-the-debate-over-origins\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"publication-history-and-the-debate-over-origins\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003ePublication History and the Debate over Origins\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe date a story appeared in print must be distinguished from the date it first arose. The \u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of Korean Culture\u003c/em\u003e presents the following publication history. These records provide evidence for tracing how the story spread.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePublication\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eYear of inclusion\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSignificance of the record\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Publication\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCollection of Joseon Tales\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Year of inclusion\"\u003e1910\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Significance of the record\"\u003eA related story was introduced in print\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Publication\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eKorean Reader\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Year of inclusion\"\u003e1915\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Significance of the record\"\u003eA related story was included in a textbook\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo theories are presented about its origins: that it originated in Korea, and that it was adopted from Japan. The Korean-origin theory holds that an existing folktale was used in textbooks during the colonial period. The Japanese-adoption theory focuses on how the story became established through channels such as textbooks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fact that the story was passed down orally in Korea supports its transmission within the country. That fact alone, however, cannot establish which country it first originated in. An outline of the debate appears in the \u003ca href=\"https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0063887\"\u003e“The Old Man with a Lump Folktale” entry in the \u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of Korean Culture\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#other-versions-and-similar-stories\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"other-versions-and-similar-stories\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eOther Versions and Similar Stories\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNames and scenes may vary between versions, but the structure in which the two people meet opposite outcomes remains. In oral folklore, an individually transmitted version is called a “variant.” Details can differ even under the same title.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePoint of comparison\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDocumented differences\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat to distinguish when reading\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Point of comparison\"\u003eMain character’s name\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Documented differences\"\u003eSome variants call him Kim Cheomji or Old Man Choe\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to distinguish when reading\"\u003eOne name cannot be treated as the name used in every version\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Point of comparison\"\u003eScene in which the lump changes hands\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Documented differences\"\u003eThe bargaining with the dokkaebi is sometimes longer\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to distinguish when reading\"\u003eThe details of the exchange may vary by version\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Point of comparison\"\u003eSimilar folktales\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Documented differences\"\u003e“The Dokkaebi’s Club” also features an imitator’s failure\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"What to distinguish when reading\"\u003eEven with a similar structure, the characters’ traits and the emphasis differ\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of Korean Culture\u003c/em\u003e points out a difference from “The Dokkaebi’s Club.” That tale emphasizes the main character’s kindness and devotion to his parents. By contrast, the old man who passes on his lump is not clearly given those traits.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreating the first old man as a good person from the outset therefore narrows the interpretation. He too deceives the dokkaebi by saying that the song comes from his lump. The difference between the events lies more in the order of the encounters and the other party’s response than in personal character.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#why-the-two-old-men-have-different-endings\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"why-the-two-old-men-have-different-endings\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhy the Two Old Men Have Different Endings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two old men meet different outcomes because the dokkaebi react differently to the same explanation. At first, they believe the claim that the lump is the source of the singing. The next time, they judge the same claim to be a lie.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBasis of comparison\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eThe old man they met first\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eThe old man who copied him\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Basis of comparison\"\u003eReason for the encounter\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man they met first\"\u003eMeets the dokkaebi by chance\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man who copied him\"\u003eSeeks them out after hearing about the first old man\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Basis of comparison\"\u003eExplanation\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man they met first\"\u003eSays the singing comes from his lump\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man who copied him\"\u003eRepeats the same explanation\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Basis of comparison\"\u003eThe dokkaebi’s reaction\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man they met first\"\u003eBelieve him and take his lump\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man who copied him\"\u003eCall it a lie and attach another lump\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Basis of comparison\"\u003eOutcome\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man they met first\"\u003eLoses his lump and gains riches\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"The old man who copied him\"\u003eGains an extra lump\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis structure is called an “imitation tale.” It is a story in which someone copies another person’s actions but gets a different result. Here, an attempt to repeat an earlier success ends in failure.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe old man who copies the first repeats the words that worked in the first encounter. The dokkaebi, however, have already experienced one such exchange. With this in mind, his imitation can be read as a failure to recognize that the circumstances have changed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis interpretation does not imply a rule that all imitation is bad. The folktale repeats similar scenes to highlight the difference in their outcomes. The story’s appeal lies in the failure of the expectation that good fortune can be copied exactly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#folklore-in-the-story\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"folklore-in-the-story\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eFolklore in the Story\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dokkaebi in this tale possess both mysterious powers and a certain foolishness. They can move a person’s lump at will. Yet they do not properly understand where the sound of singing comes from.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe song gives the human and the dokkaebi a reason to speak to one another.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThrough the dokkaebi’s misunderstanding, the lump becomes an object of trade.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe riches show how an encounter with unfamiliar beings turns into good fortune.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe repeated encounters reveal the difference between good and bad fortune.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe removal and attachment of lumps is a fantastical storytelling device. It cannot be read as a record of actual bodily changes or medical treatment. Nor should the outcomes in the story be applied to judgments about real people’s appearance or character.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene in which the old man gains riches reflects a wish for unexpected good fortune. The dokkaebi are not merely frightening beings. Their susceptibility to human trickery creates the story’s humor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#did-this-actually-happen\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"did-this-actually-happen\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eDid this actually happen?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a traditional folktale, not a verified account of an actual event. The recorded oral account is evidence that someone told the story. It does not prove that a lump actually moved from one person to another.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#where-can-i-find-the-original-text\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"where-can-i-find-the-original-text\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhere can I find the original text?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSearch for “The Tale of Trying to Remove a Lump but Gaining One” on the Korean Studies Promotion Project Results Portal. The fieldwork date for the Dangjin record is November 10, 1979. Its fieldwork location distinguishes it from other records with the same title.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#what-does-this-story-mean\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"what-does-this-story-mean\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhat does this story mean?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can be read as an imitation tale in which someone fails while trying to obtain the same good fortune as someone before him. One possible interpretation is that the same actions can produce different results when circumstances change. It is difficult to explain the story solely as a conflict between a good person and a bad person.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#was-the-first-old-man-rewarded-for-being-good\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"was-the-first-old-man-rewarded-for-being-good\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWas the first old man rewarded for being good?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the plot examined here, the first old man’s good deeds are not presented as a condition for his reward. He tells the dokkaebi that the singing comes from his lump. It is therefore difficult to judge his character from the ending alone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#did-the-story-originate-in-korea\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"did-the-story-originate-in-korea\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eDid the story originate in Korea?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecords confirm that the story was passed down orally in Korea. Its origins, however, are debated between the Korean-origin theory and the Japanese-adoption theory. The fact that it was recorded in Korea and the question of where it first arose should not be treated as the same issue.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#was-1915-the-year-the-story-was-created\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"was-1915-the-year-the-story-was-created\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWas 1915 the year the story was created?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1915 is the year it was included in \u003cem\u003eKorean Reader\u003c/em\u003e. A related story had also appeared in \u003cem\u003eCollection of Joseon Tales\u003c/em\u003e in 1910. Neither publication date, by itself, indicates the year the folktale was created.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#which-name-is-correct-kim-cheomji-or-old-man-choe\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"which-name-is-correct-kim-cheomji-or-old-man-choe\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhich name is correct, Kim Cheomji or Old Man Choe?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are presented as names used in different variants. Characters’ names and scenes can change through oral transmission. There is no need to apply the name used in one particular book to every version.\u003c/p\u003e\n","tags":["Cultural heritage","Folktales","Dokkaebi"],"faqs":[{"question":"Is the story about removing and attaching lumps based on a real event?","answer":"It is a traditional folktale, not a story confirmed to be based on a real event. The collected records are evidence that the story was told orally. They are not evidence that mysterious physical changes actually occurred."},{"question":"Where can I read the records of oral storytelling?","answer":"Search for “The Tale of Going to Have a Lump Removed and Getting Another Attached” on the Korean Studies Promotion Project Results Portal. The Dangjin record comes from a survey conducted on November 10, 1979. The survey location is listed as what was then Songsan-myeon, Dangjin-gun, Chungcheongnam-do."},{"question":"Why do the two old men meet different ends?","answer":"The dokkaebi believe the first old man's explanation but judge the second old man's identical claim to be a lie. The story follows the structure of an imitation tale, in which someone fails after copying another person's earlier success. It can be interpreted as imitation that fails to account for changed circumstances."},{"question":"Is the first old man good and the second old man bad?","answer":"In the version examined, the first old man's good deeds are not presented as a condition for his reward. The first old man also deceives the dokkaebi by saying that his singing comes from his lump. The key is the order of the two encounters and the difference in reactions, rather than a simple distinction between good and evil."},{"question":"Can we say for certain that this folktale originated in Korea?","answer":"It is confirmed that the tale was passed down orally in Korea, but there are differing views on its origins. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture presents both the theory that it originated in Korea and the theory that it was adopted from Japan. Records of its transmission within Korea alone cannot establish where it first originated."},{"question":"What do 1910 and 1915 refer to, respectively?","answer":"1910 is the year a related story was introduced in Collection of Joseon Tales. 1915 is the year it was included in Joseon Language Reader. Both dates mark its inclusion in written works, not the birth of the folktale."},{"question":"What kind of beings are the dokkaebi in this story?","answer":"The dokkaebi have the supernatural ability to move lumps. However, they do not know where the singing comes from and are deceived by a person's words. They display both mysterious powers and gullibility."},{"question":"Why does the main character's name differ from book to book?","answer":"The details of an oral folktale vary across individual versions. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives Kim Cheomji and Choe Yeonggam as examples of names. The bargaining scene in which the lump changes hands is sometimes expanded."},{"question":"Is the storyteller the author who created this folktale?","answer":"The storyteller is the person who told the story at the time of the survey. Having a name listed in a collected record does not make that person the folktale's creator. This article distinguishes the storyteller as someone who passed on a folktale that had been transmitted anonymously."}],"sources":[{"url":"https://waks.aks.ac.kr/dir/searchAchieve.aspx?curPage=657\u0026pageSize=20\u0026sType=\u0026sWord=\u0026secType=%EA%B5%AC%EC%88%A0%EC%9E%90%EB%A3%8C\u0026sort=","title":"Korean Studies Promotion Project Results Portal, list of oral materials containing recording information for “The Story of Going to Have a Lump Removed but Ending Up with Another”","type":"source"},{"url":"https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0063887","title":"Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, “The Tale of the Old Man with a Lump”","type":"source"}],"images":[{"id":2364,"url":"https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzY4OTUsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--6dfde22b26bc8b73d7c1a54b3e2344d3a66de0f3/ai-5340501d.webp","is_representative":true,"generation_method":"ai_image","license":"ai_generated","mime_type":"image/webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"translations":{"ko":{"alt":"달 밝은 산속 큰 소나무 아래에서 한복 입은 노인이 노래하고, 도깨비들이 안개 속에 모여 듣는다.","caption":"첫 노인은 도깨비에게 혹을 넘기며 뜻밖의 행운을 얻는다.","description":null},"en":{"alt":"An old man in hanbok sings beneath a moonlit pine as dokkaebi gather in the mist to listen.","caption":"The first elder finds unexpected good fortune when the dokkaebi take his lump.","description":null},"ja":{"alt":"月明かりの山中、大きな松の下で韓服姿の老人が歌い、霧の中に集まったトッケビたちが耳を傾ける。","caption":"最初の老人はトッケビにこぶを取ってもらい、思いがけない幸運を得る。","description":null},"es":{"alt":"Un anciano con hanbok canta bajo un pino a la luz de la luna, mientras los dokkaebi escuchan entre la niebla.","caption":"El primer anciano obtiene una fortuna inesperada cuando los dokkaebi se llevan su bulto.","description":null},"id":{"alt":"Seorang kakek berhanbok bernyanyi di bawah pinus bermandikan cahaya bulan, didengarkan para dokkaebi di tengah kabut.","caption":"Kakek pertama mendapat keberuntungan tak terduga ketika para dokkaebi mengambil benjolannya.","description":null},"pt":{"alt":"Um idoso de hanbok canta sob um pinheiro ao luar, enquanto os dokkaebi escutam em meio à névoa.","caption":"O primeiro idoso tem uma sorte inesperada quando os dokkaebi levam seu caroço.","description":null},"zh-hant":{"alt":"月光下的山林裡，一位身穿韓服的老人在大松樹下唱歌，聚集在霧中的鬼怪側耳聆聽。","caption":"第一位老人讓鬼怪取走肉瘤，意外獲得了好運。","description":null},"de":{"alt":"Ein alter Mann im Hanbok singt unter einer Kiefer im Mondlicht, während Dokkaebi im Nebel zuhören.","caption":"Der erste Alte hat unerwartetes Glück, als die Dokkaebi ihm seine Beule abnehmen.","description":null}}},{"id":2365,"url":"https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzY5MDEsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--10e55670cb86f510490e96c62f8c9e19853d31a5/ai-0c47236e.webp","is_representative":false,"generation_method":"ai_image","license":"ai_generated","mime_type":"image/webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"translations":{"ko":{"alt":"새벽 안개 속 도깨비 그림자를 뒤로하고 굽은 산길을 따라 마을로 내려가는 노인의 뒷모습","caption":"앞선 행운을 따라 한 시도는 오히려 더 나쁜 결말로 이어진다.","description":null},"en":{"alt":"An old man walks down a winding path toward a village at dawn, leaving dokkaebi shadows in the misty forest.","caption":"Imitating an earlier success leads to a worse outcome instead.","description":null},"ja":{"alt":"夜明けの霧深い森にトッケビの影を残し、曲がりくねった山道を村へ下る老人の後ろ姿","caption":"先の幸運をまねた試みは、かえって悪い結末につながる。","description":null},"es":{"alt":"Un anciano baja hacia una aldea al amanecer, dejando atrás sombras de dokkaebi en el bosque brumoso.","caption":"Imitar un éxito anterior conduce, por el contrario, a un desenlace peor.","description":null},"id":{"alt":"Seorang lelaki tua menuruni jalan berkelok menuju desa saat fajar, meninggalkan bayangan dokkaebi di hutan berkabut.","caption":"Meniru keberhasilan sebelumnya justru berujung pada hasil yang lebih buruk.","description":null},"pt":{"alt":"Um idoso desce por uma trilha até a aldeia ao amanhecer, deixando sombras de dokkaebi na floresta enevoada.","caption":"Imitar um sucesso anterior acaba levando a um desfecho pior.","description":null},"zh-hant":{"alt":"黎明時分，一名老人背對觀者沿蜿蜒山路走向村落，身後霧林中隱約可見鬼怪的身影","caption":"仿效先前的好運，反而招來更糟的結局。","description":null},"de":{"alt":"Ein alter Mann geht im Morgengrauen zum Dorf hinab; im nebligen Wald bleiben Dokkaebi-Schatten zurück.","caption":"Das Nachahmen eines früheren Erfolgs führt stattdessen zu einem schlechteren Ausgang.","description":null}}}],"published_at":"2026-11-02T16:32:33+09:00","updated_at":"2026-11-02T16:32:33+09:00","license":"cc_by","translation_status":"reviewed","available_locales":["ko","en","ja","es"],"data_locales":["ko","en","ja","es","id","pt","zh-hant","de"],"url":"https://injoys.com/en/articles/hokburi-yeonggam-story-origins-and-endings"}