The cow was always closely associated with the agricultural life of Korea and was treated like a family member in many homes. The animal was an indispensable source of labor and a means of transportation, while its cash value played the role of an emergency fund during contingencies. The cow was deemed to be one of the most familiar animals. The Cow is earthy and faithful, and physically strong, yet mild, patient and obedient in temperament. Such characteristics were deeply ingrained in the Korean sentiment, leading to the creation of various beliefs and customs. Our ancestors used to say, "Without words, the cow has twelve virtues." Cows often play a part in Korean folk customs. Since many local folk customs developed around the agricultural way of life, cows being part of various customs did not require reasoning. As mentioned above, the cow was treated like a trusted and beloved family member in Korea. When the weather turned cold, the cow was covered with straw mats, while come spring the cowshed was cleaned every two weeks until the return of winter. Cows were never fed grass moistened by dew; and they were brushed regularly to promote blood circulation. And when a cow had to travel a long distance, its hoofs were protected with straw shoes. The cow's earthy, innocent, patient nature harmonized well with that of the Korean people who were perseverant, patient and composed, for they always cherished and loved cows. Being one of the most familiar animals in Korean daily life, the cow helped shape various character models in Korean folklore.

Do people born in the Year of the Cow actually resemble the cow? As the old saying goes, "Slow but bull's steps," of people who persevered with hard work and succeeded in the end, many were born in the Year of Cow. People born in the Year of Cow commonly share the trait of being persevering and diligent. But as they are also born obstinate, they are often described as "Hwangso-gojip" in Korean, which literally means "as stubborn as a bull," and they go at their own pace no matter what, rather than listening to others. Therefore, it may be extremely difficult to convince them. That perhaps explains the origin of the Korean proverb: "To read a scripture to a cow." Sociable though they may appear, people born in the Year of Cow are also lonesome at heart, as some are born only to work until death. But their life can also be easy and comfortable depending on their situation, as the following proverbs suggest: "Cows born in winter have a good life" and "A summer cow lying in the shadow." These sayings paradoxically express the hard working life of cows. The cow may be dull, but once it sets its mind to doing something, and if it doesn't get the job done as quickly as possible, like the proverb, "Be quick, if you want to pull out the bull's horn," says, then it might as well get sick is the common trait of people born in the Year of Cow. Once decided, they must get their job done no matter what. Their weakness may be their inability to control their emotions and they may get quite noisy when they are very angry. They get tougher against tough guys, but to the weak they can be sympathetic and kindhearted beyond one's expectations.