The Dragon King’s Daughter of Busan

The Heart of the Sea

The halls of the Dragon King’s palace stretched on endlessly, adorned with pearls and lined with thrones of polished shell. Sea anemones pulsed gently in rhythm with the tide, and schools of fish wove through the currents like colorful tapestries in motion. Yet amidst this splendor, Soorin felt a growing sense of unease.

She walked barefoot through the grand halls, her robes trailing behind her like ripples on water. As she approached the throne room, her father’s voice echoed through the chamber. The Dragon King was in council, deliberating with his advisors about the state of the seas. His voice, deep and commanding, filled the room, but it softened when he saw his daughter enter.

“Soorin,” he said, his tone warm but edged with concern. “What troubles you?”

Soorin hesitated, her hands twisting nervously. “Father, I’ve… I’ve been dreaming of the world above. I want to see it for myself.”

The court fell silent. The advisors exchanged uneasy glances, and even the currents seemed to still. The Dragon King leaned forward on his throne, his golden eyes narrowing.

“You’ve heard the stories, my daughter,” he said gravely. “The human world is not like ours. They are fickle, curious, and often cruel. They fear what they do not understand.”

“I know,” Soorin said, her voice steady despite the trembling in her heart. “But how can I understand my place if I do not see the world for myself? Please, Father. I need to go.”

The Dragon King studied her for a long moment, the weight of centuries in his gaze. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained heavy. “Very well. But heed my warning: you have one month. When the full moon rises, you must return. If you fail to do so, you will lose your place in the sea forever.”

Relief flooded Soorin’s heart, though she couldn’t shake the flicker of fear in her father’s words. “Thank you, Father. I promise, I’ll return.”

First Steps

Soorin emerged from the sea under the cover of dawn, her feet touching sand for the first time. The beach was deserted, save for the occasional cry of a seagull and the rhythmic crash of the waves. She marveled at the feel of the earth beneath her feet, coarse and warm, so different from the smooth floors of her underwater home.

Her shimmering blue robes, woven from strands of seaweed and adorned with pearls, caught the morning light like a thousand tiny mirrors. But as she stepped into the world of humans, she knew she needed to blend in. With a wave of her hand, her robes transformed into a simple but elegant hanbok, the colors muted to match the tones of the world around her.

Busan was unlike anything she had imagined. The city buzzed with life: vendors called out to passersby, the scent of grilled fish and spices filled the air, and the streets were alive with laughter and chatter. Soorin wandered, wide-eyed and curious, absorbing every detail. She stopped at a street vendor’s stall, captivated by the vibrant display of tteokbokki and kimbap.

“You look like you’ve never seen food before,” the vendor joked, handing her a skewer of odeng.

Soorin smiled shyly, taking a tentative bite. The warmth and flavor burst across her tongue, unlike anything she had tasted before. “It’s… wonderful,” she said, her voice tinged with awe.

The vendor laughed. “Welcome to Busan, then. But be careful, young lady. This city has a way of pulling you in.”

She didn’t understand his warning, but she thanked him and continued her journey, her heart full of wonder and a growing sense of unease.

The Bookshop

On her second week on land, Soorin found herself drawn to a quiet street away from the bustling markets. Tucked between two towering buildings was a small bookshop, its wooden sign faded with age. The scent of old paper and ink wafted out as she stepped inside.

The shopkeeper was a young man named Joon, his face partially hidden behind a pair of round glasses. He looked up from his desk as the doorbell jingled, his expression shifting from curiosity to a warm smile. “Welcome,” he said. “Looking for anything in particular?”

Soorin hesitated, running her fingers along the spines of the books. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’ve never been in a place like this before.”

Joon raised an eyebrow but said nothing, instead watching as she pulled a book from the shelf. It was a collection of Korean myths and legends, its pages worn and yellowed with age.

“You like stories?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, her fingers tracing the intricate illustrations. “Do you believe in them? Dragons, sea kings, and their daughters?”

Joon chuckled. “I think myths are just truths wrapped in stories, waiting for someone to uncover them.”

Soorin’s heart stirred at his words. For the first time since leaving the sea, she felt a flicker of understanding, as if Joon could see through her veil of secrecy. She began visiting the shop every day, drawn to his quiet charm and the way he spoke of stories as if they were living things.

As the days passed, their conversations deepened. Joon shared tales of ancient Korea, and Soorin, careful not to reveal her true identity, spoke of the sea as if it were a distant memory. Their bond grew, and with it, Soorin’s feelings for him—feelings she knew were forbidden.

The Storm

As the full moon approached, Soorin felt the pull of the sea grow stronger. Her father’s warning echoed in her mind, but her heart was torn. How could she return to the ocean and leave Joon behind?

One evening, as they walked along Haeundae Beach, a storm began to brew. The waves grew restless, and the wind howled through the air. Soorin’s chest tightened as she realized the storm was her father’s doing. He was calling her home.

“Soorin,” Joon said, his voice raised against the wind, “we need to find shelter!”

But she shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. “Joon, I can’t stay. This storm… it’s because of me.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice laced with confusion and fear.

She took his hands, her voice trembling. “I’m not who you think I am. I’m the Dragon King’s daughter, and I must return to the sea. If I don’t, I’ll lose my place in my father’s kingdom forever.”

Joon stared at her, his expression a mixture of disbelief and sorrow. “Then let me go with you.”

“You can’t,” she said, her voice breaking. “The sea isn’t your world.”

The storm raged around them, the waves crashing violently against the shore. Soorin kissed Joon one last time, her tears mingling with the rain. “I’ll never forget you,” she whispered before turning and running into the ocean.

As the waves engulfed her, the storm began to subside. Joon stood on the shore, his heart breaking as the sea swallowed the woman he had come to love.

Epilogue: The Eternal Tide

The people of Busan still tell the story of Soorin, the Dragon King’s daughter who fell in love with a human. They say that on stormy nights, if you stand on Haeundae Beach, you can hear her voice in the wind, calling out to her lost love.

And Joon? He never forgot her. He spent his life writing stories about the sea, each one a love letter to the woman who had changed his world. Though he never saw her again, he knew she was always there, just beyond the waves.