Korean Proverb Series 86
Covering One’s Eyes and Saying “Awoong”
“눈 가리고 아웅”
(Nun garigo a-ung)
🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning
The Korean proverb “눈 가리고 아웅” literally means
“Covering one’s eyes and saying ‘awoong.’”
It describes a situation where someone tries to deceive others with an obvious trick,
pretending that a problem doesn’t exist or that the truth is hidden,
even though everyone can clearly see what’s going on.
This proverb criticizes self-deception, shallow excuses, and pretending
that covering appearances can change reality.
🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson
▪️ Obvious lies convince no one.
▪️ Pretending doesn’t solve problems.
▪️ Facing the truth is the first step to resolution.
The saying reminds us that honesty and accountability matter more than appearances.
Reality doesn’t disappear just because we choose not to look at it.
👀 3. Real-Life Applications
▪️ A company hides problems instead of fixing them.
▪️ Someone makes excuses for a mistake everyone already knows about.
▪️ Policies are announced for show, while real issues remain untouched.
This proverb teaches us that short-term pretending only leads to long-term consequences.
🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World
▪️ United States — “Putting your head in the sand.”
→ Refusing to face reality.
▪️ United Kingdom — “Turning a blind eye.”
→ Deliberately ignoring the truth.
▪️ China — “掩耳盗铃 (Yǎn ěr dào líng).”
→ Covering one’s ears while stealing a bell — fooling oneself.
▪️ Japan — “見て見ぬふり (Mite minu furi).”
→ Pretending not to see.
Across cultures, people warn against self-deception disguised as cleverness.
💬 A Warm Saying
“Truth doesn’t disappear when you close your eyes —
it waits for you to open them.”
📌 Note
This is a creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission.
Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.
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