The Legend of Arang

The Death of Arang

According to the legend Arangs real name was Yun Dong-ok ( 윤동옥 /尹東玉) and had lost her mother when she was very young and basically brought up by a nanny. But her nanny was mean and hated her and wanted her punished. The nanny colluded with the servant Baekga to take her at night and rape her. But Arang resisted and he ended up stabbing her to death. Her body was taken into the woods and buried for no one to know.

In some versions, Arang is said to have gone out to have looked at the moon when a man approached her which she turned down, leading to him killing her. There are also the versions where a low ranking officer bribed her nanny to bring her to him.

Her father, the magistrate, was distraught as they all thought that she had eloped and ran off with a stranger. In shame he resigned from his position and the whole family took a backseat.

**The Legend of Arang:** One of the more famous ghost stories is the story about Arang and her murder. She came back from beyond to uncover the truth of what really happened the night she died.

The Revenge

But this wasn’t the last they heard of her. Whenever a new magistrate was appointed in Miryang, the spirit of Arang appeared before him and asked for his help to restore her honor and avenge her.

Read more: Another korean ghost story about a wrongfully shamed woman getting help from a government official is the story about A Ghost Tale Of Two Sisters — The Legend of Janghwa and Hongryeon

Problem was that the appointed magistrates were so afraid of her that they all resigned and in the end, no one wanted to take the position out of fear for the ghost haunting the place. In some versions of the legend, they died after not helping her. But that all changed when the man named Yi Sang-sa was appointed to the position.

He saw past the scary ghost and promised the spirit of Arang to avenge her so she could have justice. In some version she just tells the name of the killer, in some version, she comes back as a butterfly to mark the murderer.

In any case the murderer is found out and the young magistrate arrested Baekga and had him executed. After this, her spirit was able to move on and she no longer haunted the town.

The Aranggak Shrine

To this day there is a shrine in honor of Arang’s spirit where she is venerated and is called the Aranggak Shrine. Even the popular folk song Arirang has its own local version which is said to may or may not be about the legend of Arang.

**The Shrine of Arang:** In Miryang they have built a shrine to venerate her spirit. Source/Koreabyme

There are also movies and TV series inspired by the legend, like the 2006 movie, Arang and the 2012 drama series Arang and the Magistrate.

“Arang and the Magistrate” is a Korean drama that combines elements of historical romance, supernatural intrigue, and mystery. Set in the Joseon period, the story revolves around the ghostly character of Arang, who is determined to uncover the truth behind her own death. She teams up with the righteous and pragmatic Magistrate Eun Oh, who can see spirits, creating an unusual partnership. As they delve into the mysteries of Arang’s past and the corruption within the government, the drama weaves a compelling narrative filled with suspense, romance, and supernatural elements.

No matter what the meaning behind the words of the song is, her shrine is solely dedicated to her and standing on a cliff in Miryang on the Yeongnamnu pavilion, one of the important cultural treasures of Miryang, facing the Miryang River.

In the end, the tale of Arang serves as a reminder of the power of justice and the perseverance of the human spirit, even beyond death. Through her haunting, Arang sought the truth and found an ally in the courageous magistrate, Yi Sang-sa, who helped her reveal the identity of her murderer and bring him to justice. With her revenge fulfilled, Arang’s spirit was able to find peace and move on.

As the wind whispers through the trees surrounding the Aranggak Shrine, it carries the echoes of Arang’s tale, reminding us of the importance of seeking truth, fighting for justice, and never forgetting the stories of those who went before us.