The Sea Dragon King knew of her completely voluntary act of self-sacrifice.  This was no poor victim, cast into the waves by desperate men, but a daughter of pure love who had been willing to surrender her life for the sake of her pitiful father.  The purity of this act had moved even the great king to awe, and the whole court joyfully welcomed Shim Chung to their realm.  A great celebration was held in her honor, and the finest entertainments were offered.

Every citizen of the Kingdom of the Sea marveled at Shim Chung’s beauty.  Indeed, the beautiful character that was within now radiated forth in every aspect of her appearance.  Even the Sea Dragon King was moved, and he asked that she become his bride and Undersea Goddess.   But Shim Chung could not accept this generous offer.  She must decline, she explained, because she longed to take care of her poor, blind father who was now so alone.  Could she return to the world above the water, she begged?

Lady of the lotus flower.  The Sea Dragon King did not want to consider such a thing, but his heart could not withstand Shim Chung’s desperate and passionate pleas.  Finally he agreed.  To return the girl to the world above, the Sea Dragon King prepared a special cloak for Shim Chung to wear.  This he wrapped about her, then placed her in a lotus flower.  This was then released so that it could rise to the surface and carry Shim Chung to a new destiny in the world.

Now at this time the king of Korea was a young but sad and lonely man.  All his life he had dreamed of a perfect woman, and he had always believed that one day he would meet and marry this person.  But she never appeared.  He even called all the eligible young women of Korea to meet him at the court, but he could not find the woman of his dreams.  Dismayed, he dismissed all those who had gathered for the meeting.  He was determined to wait, certain that one day his true bride would arrive.

After the meeting, the glum king patiently watched as flower girls danced and sang in hopes of entertaining him and raising his spirits.  But nothing piqued his interest until one of his ministers announced that a remarkable lotus, large and beautiful, was floating in the ocean nearby.