죽기 살기는 시왕전에 매였다 -- Long before either life or death, bound are we to the Ten Kings.

In Buddhism the Ten Kings (시왕, 十王), were a panel of kings that sat in judgement over people when they reached the afterlife. This proverb reminds us that the acts of living and dying are beyond our control. (죽고 살기란 염라대왕을 비롯한 저승의 시왕한테 달렸다는 뜻으로, 죽고 사는 것을 사람이 마음대로 하지 못함을 이르는 말.)

[edit] See also

• 죽다: to die
• 살다: to live
• 시왕: The Ten Kings
• 메이다: To be bound to something