Sinopsis

In the traditional version, Mongryong was the son of a noble man. One day he sees Choonhyang and falls in love with her at first sight. Choonhyang is the daughter of a successful kisaeng, and hence was able to grow up educated almost as if she was a noble herself. Choonhyang was also very beautiful, and had many many men try to seduce her/marry her. Mongryong tries his chance with her and succeeds in wooing her, and proposes to to her. Choonhyang agrees to his marriage proposal. Knowing that Mongryong's parents wouldn't like the idea of a low class daughter marrying into the family, Mongryong does the marriage in secrete. Then his parents send him off to the capital, Seoul, hoping to get his mind off of Choonhyang. When Mongryong tells Choonhyang about this, Choonhyang is devestated because she's afraid Mongryong will find some other upperclass woman in the capital to marry and she would just become a concubine. She becomes afraid that Mongryong will leave her and their marriage vows were in vain. They sadly part and Choonhyang waits for his return.Meanwhile in the capital, Mongryong studies hard to become a government official. But this takes like a while like at least a year or so. Then an evil new governor, Hakdo, comes in to the twon where Choonhyang and Mongryong live. The governor takes more food from the poor, cruelly tortures peoples/prisoners. And is just all around a bad guy. When he hears about the beautiful Choonhyang, he decides that it is his right to make her his. He feels it is natural after all because she is a kisaeng's daughter, however educated. But Choonhyang refuses to become Hakdo's concubine. She keeps telling him, I have only one man in my life. One husband. That is Mongryong. Her determination to not give herself up to Hakdo makes Hakdo put her in a prison. Meanwhile Mongryong has absolutely no idea what is going on [yeah, back in the day communication was slow] . Soon Mongryong passes his civil exam and becomes a high-ranking government official, a position higher than Hakdo.

When he hears about Choonhyang's sacrifice for him-- holding out for him, he hurries back to resuce her from Hakdo. Basically, when he returns to town, he does a raid capturing the corrupt government officials and Hakdo at it. The day of the raid was also the day that Choonhyang was senteance to die. Hakdo got frustrated with Choonhyang and so decided to execute her. So while, Choonhyang is waiting to be killed, claiming that she has done nothing but be loyal to only one man in her life, a man's voice calls out. He questions her again why did not give into the governor's demands, and she's like "How many times do I have to tell you. I'm a married woman with only one man in my life." (or something like that). Then the voice tells her to look up, and she looks up and sees it's not Hakdo, who was captured and taken away, but Mongryong. She is surprised but glad to see him. Choonhyang supposedly faints at seeing Mongryong because she hadn't seen him for so long.
Then they have a real wedding and celebration and Choonhyang and Mongryong live happily ever after ~~~~~