A Road Named After a Fairy Tale

Kongjwi Patjwi-ro connects Gimje and Wanju in Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), running through rural farmland in the western part of the peninsula. It holds a distinction unique in all of Korea: it is the first road in the country named after characters from a folktale.

'The Story of Kongjwi and Patjwi' is one of Korea's most beloved traditional tales—often compared to Cinderella, though it predates Western contact and has its own distinct moral texture. Kongjwi, a kind and hardworking girl, is tormented by her cruel stepmother and stepsister Patjwi after her father's remarriage. With magical assistance (including a supernatural ox and a flock of helpful sparrows), she eventually finds happiness while Patjwi meets a fitting end. The story survives in dozens of regional variants across Korea and is considered a masterpiece of oral literature.

The road's name came from careful historical research. The tale describes Kongjwi living "30 li outside the west gate of Jeonju Fortress"—and scholars and local historians identified this location as present-day Aenggok Village in Wanju-gun. Residents and cultural advocates petitioned to commemorate this connection, and in 2008 the road was officially named Kongjwi Patjwi-ro.

The village around the road has since been developed as 'Kongjwi Patjwi Village', with murals, sculptures, and interactive exhibits based on the story. Kongjwi's Well (where she drew water) and Patjwi's Pond have been recreated as landmarks. The site is now a popular destination for families and school trips—a living piece of Korean storytelling tradition planted in the actual landscape where the story was set.

The tale itself, scholars note, is not simply a feel-good story. It reflects the social tensions of late Joseon society—blended families, inheritance disputes, and the treatment of women—wrapped in the accessible form of a folk narrative. The road name honors not just a children's story but a centuries-old window into Korean social history.