π°π· Korean Β· free
Short stories in Korean for beginners β with translation
Hangul can be learned in a weekend, which makes Korean feel easy at first. Reading real sentences is another matter: verbs pile up endings for tense, politeness and connection, and particles do work that English does with word order. Easy stories let you meet these endings dozens of times in context instead of in isolated drills.
ReadNative's Korean book is The Tale of Hong Gildong, the Joseon-era story of the son forbidden to call his father "father", retold in 40 chapters from absolute beginner (around TOPIK level 1) to about B1. Tap any word for its meaning and romanization. The opening chapters of The Tale of Hong Gildong β in fact the whole book β are free to read in your browser at readnative.org, with tap-to-translate on every word.
40 stories, easiest first
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 1μ₯: ννμμ μ§
Chapter 1: The House of Minister Hong
μλ μ‘°μ μ νμμ ν° μ§μ΄ μμ΄μ. μ΄ ν° μ§μ ννμκ° μ΄μμ.
Long ago, in Hanyang, the capital of Joseon, there is a big house. In this big house lives Minister Hong.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 2μ₯: κ·Έ λ§μ μ λΌμ
Chapter 2: That Word Is Not Allowed
κΈΈλμ μ΄ μ§μμ μ΄μμ. μ΄ μ§μλ κ·μΉμ΄ μμ΄μ.
Gildong lives in this house. In this house there is a rule.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 3μ₯: λ°€μ μ±
Chapter 3: Books at Night
μΈνμ ννμμ μλ€μ΄μμ. μΈνμ νμ₯λμ΄ μμ΄μ.
Inhyeong is Minister Hong's son. Inhyeong has a tutor.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 4μ₯: λ¬κ³Ό κ²
Chapter 4: The Moon and the Sword
κΈΈλμ λ°€μ μ±
μ μ½μ΄μ. νμ§λ§ μ€λ λ°€μ λ¬λΌμ.
Gildong reads books at night. But tonight is different.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 5μ₯: μ΄λ¨Έλμ μ΄μΌκΈ°
Chapter 5: Mother's Story
μΆμ¬μ κΈΈλμ μ΄λ¨Έλμμ. κΈΈλμ μ΄λ¨Έλλ₯Ό μ’μν΄μ.
Chunseom is Gildong's mother. Gildong loves his mother.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 6μ₯: νκ³Ό λλ ¨λ
Chapter 6: Brother and Young Master
μ€λμ μ’μ λ μ΄μμ. νλμ΄ λ°μμ.
Today is a good day. The sky is bright.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 7μ₯: μ΄λ
Chapter 7: Choran
μ΄λλ μ΄ μ§μ μ΄μμ. μ΄λμ ννμλ₯Ό μ’μν΄μ.
Choran, too, lives in this house. Choran loves Minister Hong.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 8μ₯: 무λΉμ λ§
Chapter 8: The Shaman's Words
μ΄λ λ , 무λΉμ΄ μ§μ μμ. λͺ¨λ 무λΉμ λ΄μ.
One day, a shaman comes to the house. Everyone looks at the shaman.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 9μ₯: μλ²μ§μ κ±±μ
Chapter 9: Father's Worry
ννμλ κ±±μ μ΄ λ§μμ. 무λΉμ λ§μ΄ 무μμμ.
Minister Hong has much worry. The shaman's words are frightening.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 10μ₯: κΈΈλμ λλ¬Ό
Chapter 10: Gildong's Tears
λ°€μ΄ λΌμ. κΈΈλμ΄ μλ²μ§μ λ°©μΌλ‘ κ°μ.
Night falls. Gildong goes to his father's room.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 11μ₯: λμ κ³ν
Chapter 11: The Wicked Plan
μ΄λμ λ§μμ λλΉ μ. μ΄λμ λμ κ³νμ΄ μμμ΄μ.
Choran's heart is wicked. Choran had a wicked plan.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 12μ₯: κΉλ§κ· μ리
Chapter 12: The Crow's Cry
κ·Έ λ°€μ κΈΈλμ λ°©μ μμ΄μ. κΈΈλμ νΌμ μλ μ±
μ μ½μ΄μ.
That night, Gildong is in his room. Gildong reads an old book alone.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 13μ₯: μκ°
Chapter 13: The Assassin
κ·Έλ¦Όμκ° λ°©μΌλ‘ μμ. κ·Έ μ¬λμ νΉμ¬μμ.
A shadow comes into the room. That person is Teukjae.
A1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 14μ₯: μ΄λ³
Chapter 14: The Parting
κ·Έ λ°€μ μ§μ μμ§ μνν΄μ. μ΄λμ μμ§ μ΄ μ§μ μμ΄μ.
That night the house is still dangerous. Choran is still in this house.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 15μ₯: μ°κΈΈ
Chapter 15: The Mountain Road
κΈΈλμ μ΄μ μ°κΈΈμ κ°μ. κΈΈλμ λ€λ₯Έ μ·μ μ
μ΄μ.
Gildong now travels the mountain road. Gildong puts on different clothes.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 16μ₯: ν° λ
Chapter 16: The Big Stone
μ² μμ ν° λκ΅΄μ΄ μμ΄μ. κ·Έ λκ΅΄ μμ λμ μ΄ λ§μμ.
In the forest there is a big cave. Inside that cave there are many bandits.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 17μ₯: ν΄μΈμ¬
Chapter 17: Haeinsa Temple
μ° μμ ν° μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. κ·Έ μ μ μμ£Ό 컀μ.
In the mountains there is a big temple. That temple is very big.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 18μ₯: νλΉλΉ
Chapter 18: Hwalbindang
μ΄μ κΈΈλμ λμ μ λμ₯μ΄μμ. λμ μ μμ£Ό λ§μμ.
Now Gildong is the bandits' leader. The bandits are very many.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 19μ₯: κ°μ¬μ μ°½κ³
Chapter 19: The Governor's Storeroom
μ΄μ νλΉλΉμ ν¨κ²½λμ μμ΄μ. κ°μ¬μ μ°½κ³ λ μμ£Ό 컀μ.
Now Hwalbindang is in Hamgyeong-do. The governor's storeroom is very big.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 20μ₯: μκΈλμ λͺ
λ Ή
Chapter 20: The King's Command
μ΄μ κ·Έ μ΄λ¦μ νμμ μμ΄μ. μκΈλμ κΆμ μμ΄μ.
Now that name is in Hanyang. The king is in the palace.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 21μ₯: μ¬λ λͺ
μ κΈΈλ
Chapter 21: The Eight Gildongs
μλ μ κΈΈλμ νμΈμ μλ€μ΄μλ€. νμ§λ§ κΈΈλμ μ§μ λ λ¬λ€.
Long ago Gildong was a servant's son. But Gildong left home.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 22μ₯: ν¬λλμ₯
Chapter 22: The Police Chief
νμμ ν¬λλμ₯μ΄ μλ€. ν¬λλμ₯μ λμ μ μ‘λ μ¬λμ΄λ€.
In Hanyang there is a police chief. The police chief is a man who catches bandits.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 23μ₯: μλ²μ§μ ν
Chapter 23: Father and Brother
μκΈλμ λ νκ° λλ€. μκΈλμ ννμλ₯Ό λΆλ₯Έλ€.
The king grows even angrier. The king summons Minister Hong.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 24μ₯: νμ νΈμ§
Chapter 24: The Brother's Letter
λΉκ° μ¨λ€. κΈΈλμ κΈΈμ κ°λ€.
Rain is falling. Gildong walks the road.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 25μ₯: μκΈλ μμμ
Chapter 25: Before the King
κ°μ λ , μ¬λ λͺ
μ κΈΈλμ΄ μ¬λ κ°μ¬μκ² κ°λ€. ν κΈΈλμ ν κ°μ¬μκ² κ°λ€.
On the same day, eight Gildongs go to eight governors. Each Gildong goes to one governor.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 26μ₯: κΈΈλμ λ§
Chapter 26: Gildong's Words
μ΄μ μ§μ§ νκΈΈλμ΄ κΆμ μ¨λ€. κΈΈλμ νΌμ μ¨λ€.
Now the real Hong Gildong comes to the palace. Gildong comes alone.
A2 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 27μ₯: λ³μ‘°νμ
Chapter 27: The Minister of War
μκΈλμ΄ κΈΈλμκ² λ¬»λλ€. βκΈΈλμ, λλ 무μμ μνλλ?β
The king asks Gildong. "Gildong, what do you want?"
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 28μ₯: μλ²μ§μ λλ¬Ό
Chapter 28: Father's Tears
κ·Έλ λ°€, κΈΈλμ μ§μΌλ‘ κ°λ€. κΈΈλμ μλ²μ§λ₯Ό λ³΄λ¬ κ°λ€.
That night, Gildong goes home. Gildong goes to see his father.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 29μ₯: μΌμ² μ
Chapter 29: Three Thousand Sacks
κ·Έλ λ°€, κΈΈλμ κΆμ κ°λ€. κΈΈλμ λ¬΄κΈ°κ° μλ€.
That night, Gildong goes to the palace. Gildong has no weapon.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 30μ₯: λ°λ€
Chapter 30: The Sea
μλ²½μ΄λ€. λ°°λ€μ΄ μ‘°μ μ λ λλ€.
It is dawn. The ships leave Joseon.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 31μ₯: μλ‘μ΄ λ
Chapter 31: The New Land
λ°°λ€μ΄ λ§μΉ¨λ΄ μ¬μ λμ°©νλ€. λ°°μμ μλ‘μ΄ λ
μ΄ λ³΄μΈλ€.
At last the ships arrive at the island. From the ships the new land is seen.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 32μ₯: μ°μμ μκ΄΄
Chapter 32: The Monster in the Mountains
μλ‘μ΄ λ
μμ μ¬λλ€μ μ μ°λ€. νμ§λ§ μ°μμμ μ΄μν μλ¦¬κ° λ€λ¦°λ€.
In the new land the people live well. But from the mountains a strange sound is heard.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 33μ₯: μκ΄΄μ κ΅΄
Chapter 33: The Monster's Den
κΈΈλμ κ΅΄ μμΌλ‘ κ°λ€. κ΅΄ μμ μκ΄΄λ€μ΄ μλ€.
Gildong goes into the den. Inside the den there are monsters.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 34μ₯: νΌμΈ
Chapter 34: The Wedding
λ΄μ΄ μ¨λ€. μ¬μ κ½μ΄ λ§λ€.
Spring comes. The island is full of flowers.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 35μ₯: μλ²μ§μ κΏ
Chapter 35: The Father's Dream
μ΄λ λ λ°€, κΈΈλμ κΏμ ν° λ³μ΄ λμ¨λ€. κ·Έ λ³μ μλ²μ§μ λ³μ΄λ€.
One night, a great star appears in Gildong's dream. That star is his father's star.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 36μ₯: νλ
Chapter 36: Brother
κΈΈλμ νμ μ·μ μ
κ³ μ‘°μ μ λμ°©νλ€. μ‘°μ μ λμ°©ν νμ κΈΈλμ μ°μΌλ‘ κ°λ€.
Dressed in white, Gildong arrives in Joseon. After arriving in Joseon, Gildong goes to the mountain.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 37μ₯: μ¨λκ΅
Chapter 37: The Land of Yul-do
μ¨λκ΅μ λ¨μͺ½ λ°λ€μ ν° μ¬μ΄λ€. μ¨λκ΅μ λΆμ λλΌμ΄λ€.
Yul-do is a great island in the southern sea. Yul-do is a rich country.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 38μ₯: λ§μ§λ§ μ ν¬
Chapter 38: The Last Battle
λ§μΉ¨λ΄ λ§μ§λ§ μ ν¬μ λ μ΄ μ¨λ€. κΈΈλμ κ΅°μ¬κ° μ¨λκ΅μΌλ‘ κ°λ€.
At last the day of the final battle comes. Gildong's army goes to Yul-do.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 39μ₯: μ΄μ§ μκΈ
Chapter 39: The Benevolent King
μ΄μ κΈΈλμ μ¨λκ΅μ μκΈμ΄λ€. κΈΈλμ μ΄μ§ μκΈμ΄λ€.
Now Gildong is the king of Yul-do. Gildong is a benevolent king.
B1 Β· The Tale of Hong Gildong
μ 40μ₯: μλ²μ§
Chapter 40: Father
λ€μ λ΄μ΄ μ¨λ€. μ¨λκ΅μ κ½μ΄ λ§λ€.
Spring comes again. Yul-do is full of flowers.
How to read these stories
- Learn Hangul properly first; the romanization on tap is a safety net, not a substitute.
- Track the particles μ/λ, μ΄/κ°, μ/λ₯Ό β they tell you who is doing what.
- When a verb has several endings stuck together, tap it, read the meaning, and move on. You will see the same endings again.
- Notice the speech levels: narrative text and characters' dialogue often use different endings.
Questions
Is there easy Korean reading for beginners?
Some, but much less than for Japanese or Chinese. A long graded story like Hong Gildong gives you sustained reading at a controlled level.
Does the app use romanization?
Only when you tap: each word shows its English meaning and a romanized reading.
Is Hong Gildong a famous story?
Yes β it is one of the best-known classic Korean tales, often called the first Korean novel written in Hangul, attributed to Heo Gyun.