One day, a magistrate announces that a royal ball will be held, and all eligible women are invited to attend. Kongjui wants to go, but her stepmother and stepsister refuse to let her, so she prays to the spirits of her deceased parents for help. The spirits hear her plea and provide her with a beautiful dress and pair of shoes.

At the ball, Kongjui dances with the prince and they fall in love, but she must leave before midnight or her dress and shoes will turn back into rags. On her way out, she drops one of her shoes, which the prince uses to search for her.

Meanwhile, Patjui finds out about Kongjui's success and demands that her stepmother help her attend the next ball. The stepmother agrees, but when Patjui attends the ball, she is rude to the prince and her true nature is revealed. Kongjui, who is eventually found by the prince and reunited with her lost shoe, becomes the prince's bride, while Patjui and the stepmother are punished for their mistreatment of Kongjui.

The story teaches the value of kindness, hard work, and compassion, as well as the consequences of greed and jealousy.

One day, Sim Hak-Kyu falls into the sea and is rescued by a mermaid. The mermaid promises to heal his eyes if he promises to give her his first-born child. Sim Hak-Kyu agrees, and after his sight is restored, he forgets about his promise.

Years later, Shim Cheong-I is born, and Sim Hak-Kyu remembers his promise to the mermaid. He tries to flee with Shim Cheong-I to avoid giving her up, but is caught by the officials and is forced to keep his promise. Shim Cheong-I agrees to sacrifice herself for her father and jumps into the sea.

The mermaid, impressed by Shim Cheong-I's filial piety, sends her to a kingdom under the sea, where she meets the dragon king. The dragon king falls in love with Shim Cheong-I and marries her. However, Shim Cheong-I misses her father and asks to return to the surface world.

The dragon king grants her wish, and Shim Cheong-I returns to the surface world, where she reunites with her father. She also helps a young boy who has been abducted by pirates and reunites him with his mother, earning the nickname "The Faithful Daughter".

The story teaches the values of filial piety, compassion, and sacrifice, as well as the importance of keeping one's promises. It also portrays the beauty and wonder of the underwater world in Korean folklore.

This story is often seen as a symbol of unity and cooperation, as well as a representation of Japan's cultural values such as bravery and determination. It remains one of the most beloved and well-known stories in Japanese folklore, and is widely celebrated in Japanese popular culture, including literature, film, and theater.