Free Shipping within Korea while offer lasts!

I am publishing two books on Jeju this year – one completely new (Myths) and one revised version (Legends). Both books are complete; I am raising funds for the printing costs, which are considerable to say the least. Please help me bring these books to life! 

The books will be printed here on Jeju Island and available for pick-up or delivery by December 12th, 2026. (I expect them to be ready long before that date.) The price for each book is 33,000 KRW. All pre-orders will receive free shipping within Korea.

Shipping within Korea takes less than 3 days to arrive and will cost 4,000 KRW after this offer expires (November 11th, 2026 – I hope to pay the printer on the 12th and have the books by the 16th). International shipping takes about 3 weeks and will cost 12,000 KRW to North America, Europe and Australia. 

* I am both the translator/author, and owner of the Jeju publishing company, Gu Ru (구루 : Business License # / 사업자등록번호: 809-42-01328). Gu Ru will be the recipient of the money (under my personal name, as owner). If for some unforeseeable reason I can’t print or deliver the books on time, I will refund your money by December 13th, 2026. 

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New, with all photographs in color:

– 12 Epic Myths of Jeju Island –

Sacred Songs of the Simbang Shamans : Origins of the Heavens, Earth, Gods & Goddesses

* Paperback, 444 pages

* Hundreds of original photographs of Jeju Island

* Explanatory endnotes for each myth including Korean terminology in hangeul and hanja

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Revised, with all photographs now in color:

– 99 Legends of Jeju Island –

Tall Tales and Telling Truths : Stories of Nature, History, Natives & Visitors

* Paperback, 434 pages

* Hundreds of original and vintage photographs of Jeju Island

* Explanatory endnotes for each legend including Korean terminology in hangeul and hanja

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* For better or worse, for those who care: these books were completely translated and designed by me without any assistance from AI. A talented native English-speaking human translator who is fluent in Korean has edited the books. I’ve been a teacher and translator immersed in the exploration of the nature, history and culture of Jeju Island for about 25 and 20 years, respectively.

* I attempted to make my translations of the myths and legends accessible to the average reader who knows little or nothing of Jeju or Korea. The endnotes are aimed at history junkies, word nerds, the academically-minded and students of the Korean language and Jeju dialect.

55,000 KRW : Either book, plus first edition black & white version of 99 Legends of Jeju Island

66,000 KRW : Both books

88,000 KRW : Both books, plus first edition black & white version of 99 Legends of Jeju Island

Lots of KRW : Support this work / Open to suggestions / Make me an offer / Thank you 🙂

* There are only about 40 black & white versions of 99 Legends of Jeju Island remaining – copies can be ordered separately at the discounted rate of 22,000 KRW : first come, first served. Regular price is 33,000 KRW.

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1. Bank transfer (Korea or Canada) 

Preferable – easy, no fees, and no cost to refund in case of unforeseen circumstances 

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2. Paypal 

3. Credit card (Naver store)

4. Cash (by mail or through a mutual friend)

5. Crypto (almost any coin or token)

6. Barter (make me an offer)

Email me at jejuguru@naver.com with the following information:

1. Name

2. Title of book/s (12 Epic Myths  ///  99 Legends – Color  ///  99 Legends – B&W)

3. Number of copies

4. Payment method

5. Shipping address

I will reply with payment details. 

* Let me know if you’d like a signed copy at no extra charge!

* If for some unforeseeable reason I can’t print or deliver the books on time, I will refund your money with a sincere apology and explanation by December 13th, 2026. 

* If trust is an issue (understandably, in the AI era, dealing with someone with no Facebook friends and an empty profile!), I can give you my phone number, Kakao, names of offline friends on Jeju (who have many Facebook friends!) to contact to deliver justice, or whatever is reasonable. 

These central ancient myths of Jeju are still memorized by all the island’s shamans today, recited during ceremonies to appease the spirits and divine their will. They are epic narratives that recount Jeju’s indigenous origin stories of the cosmos, gods, goddesses and shamanic traditions. The myths tell of conflicts and resolutions between shamans, Buddhists and Confucians, outline the beginnings and development of the island’s shamanic practices, and relate the stories of its guardian spirits. The stories are chanted, sung, danced to and played out in costume by the island’s shamans with a mixture of gravity and levity, blending the sacred and profane; they are presented here for the first time in a complete English translation.

Discover:

• how the cosmos was created through the communion of yin and yang
• how order was brought to chaos
• how the human and spirit worlds became separated
• what happened to the two suns and two moons of the ancient sky
• how the daughter of the Dragon King lost her position as the Life-Giving Goddess to the daughter of the King of Longevity  
• how the Goddess of Vitality brought the God of Smallpox to his knees
• who the first shamans were and how the shamanic rituals first took form 
• how the Caretaker of the Flower Garden of the Western Heavens came to power
• how a pair of beggars became fabulously wealthy and loss it all
• how a mortal man crossed into the spirit world and became the Messenger of Death
• the significance of crows and other animals in the spiritual milieu of Jeju Island
• how a poor man cheated destiny and lived for 3,000 years
• how a virtuous woman overcame tragedy to be reborn as a flock of birds
• how a clever crossdressing princess and her groom became the god and goddess of agriculture
• how the gods and goddesses who rule over the houses of Jeju gained their places
• where the flowers of degeneration, destruction, rebirth and laughter may be found 
• how seven young foreign serpents arrived in Jeju and became central figures of its pantheon

Table of Contents

一   The Lord of the Heavens and Earth

二   The Goddess of Vitality

三   The Queen of the West

四   The Three Ancestors

五   The Caretaker

六   Miss Wooden Bowl

七   The Mortal Messenger of Death

八   Samani

九   Miss Jijang

十   Princess Prayerborn

十一   Master Nam

十二   The Seven Star Serpents

12 Epic Myths of Jeju Island is an English translation of the work of Professors Hyun Yong-Joon and Hyun Seung-Hwan, who published the myths in their original Jeju language form along with translations into standard modern Korean. Each myth is accompanied by extensive explanatory notes and hundreds of color photographs of Jeju Island taken by the author. 

Most of the tales in this book date back centuries, while some appear to be millenia old. They deal with both the divine and the mundane, ranging from silly to serious. The stories describe events both historical and imagined, featuring real people as well as fictional characters. They are a record of Jeju Islanders’ trials, tragedies and triumphs within a harsh natural environment, challenging political situation and mystifying spiritual milieu. 

Discover:

• islands that fly across the water, valleys that disappear and mountains that move
• demi-gods springing from the ground and princess brides appearing out of the blue 
• indigenous shamans, Chinese monks and Japanese pirates
• the sacrifice of maidens and the elderly to giant serpents in caves and mountains
• a giant creator goddess who began building a bridge to the mainland
• arrogant Confucian scholars, rebellious servants, clever liars and greedy scoundrels
• immortal wizards who ride white deer through the sky
• magical goblin-like creatures that bring fortune or ruin
• tales of Jeju’s 18,000 gods and goddesses  
• the gratitude of ghosts and the mysterious world beyond death
• an emperor’s quest for the elusive herb of immortality on Halla Mountain
• adventures at sea and the deeds of heroic army generals
• amazing cures and renowned physicians  
• strong and virtuous women: the ordeals they faced and their triumphs over men
• caves, springs and waterfalls home to dragons, fairies, shapeshifting foxes and magical spirits 
• the strengths and virtues of the island’s ubiquitous shrines and temples
• streams and pools of vital earth energy and the geomancers who seek to master them
• wise, just rulers and bumbling, corrupt governors
• real and imagined men and women who lived, loved, laughed and cried on Jeju Island

99 Legends of Jeju Island is an English translation and reorganization of the contents of a book of legends collected and published by Professor Hyun Yong-Joon, along with newly added explanatory notes, an index, and hundreds of color photographs of Jeju Island taken by the author.

Table of Contents (Chapters)

一   Ninety-Nine & Not One More

二   Whence & Whither

三   Flying Islands & Fantastic Rocks

四   Divine Dragons & Mysterious Mountains

五   Ponds & Springs

六   Strong Men

七   Stronger Women

八   Governors & Government Officials

九   Talent & Trickery

十   Virtue & Devotion

十一   Fate, Fortune & Failure

十二   Heroes & Amazing Abilities

十三   Spirits & Otherworldly Beings

十四   Graveyards & Geomancy

十五   Sacred Sites

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Bonus! Upcoming:

101 Qualia of Quelpart 

Jeju Island Through Western Eyes – Writings on Sightings, Studies, Sentiments & Sojourns 

* I have nearly (?!?) completed three volumes of this extensive collection of hundreds of historical writings about Jeju Island by Westerners from the 17th century until the Second World War. Travel logs, diaries, fiction and non-fiction books, encyclopedias, maps, newspaper and magazine articles, comics (about haenyeo! from early 20th century France!) etc. … (101 was in my working title, it needs to be revised since I’ve greatly expanded my collection)

* I’ve discovered dozens of really fascinating descriptions of firsthand visits to Jeju that as far as I know have never been published beyond their first appearances, and many that have never been translated to English or Korean. There is certainly no collection of Jeju-focused historical material like this in any language. 

* The accounts of meetings between the OG waygookins and Jeju Islanders are truly incredible. The number of names and spelling variations used for Jeju (Quelpart, etc.) is absolutely stunning. There are hundreds of intriguing real-life stories of human bravery, folly, arrogance, kindness, ignorance, outright bullshit, slander, earnest praise, true insight, humorous takes, massive confusion and deep misunderstandings awaiting your perusal.

* I transcribed and edited the English-language sources myself, and used AI with some human editing (so far) for the translation of French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Italian and other languages. 

* If you’re interested in reading some of these as a PDF before they’re published (sometime in 2027, I hope), please let me know. I would ask for your help in checking my transcriptions of the English against the originals (the text of old newspapers and books is sometimes blurry, and I’m human, so I’ve almost certainly made some errors.) If you’re fluent in one of the European languages above, I would love your assistance in checking the AI transcriptions and translations. If you’re sincere and actually do it, you’ll get free copies of the finished work.