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- Dokkaebis have great fun playing pranks on humans, transforming themselves into beautiful women to seduce men. Dancing, singing, and fooling around are also among their hobbies.
culturacolectiva.com/en/history/what-is-a-dokkaebi-in-south-korea/Meet the Dokkaebi, South Korea’s immortal goblin who plays ...
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Oct 23, 2024 · The Dokkaebi, often referred to as a Korean goblin, holds a prominent place in the rich tapestry of Korean mythology and folklore. These enigmatic beings are celebrated not just for their mischievous antics but also for their complex nature that intertwines the realms of the supernatural and the moral. In this exploration, we aim to delve into ...
Jul 12, 2024 · In the rich tapestry of Korean folklore, the Dokkaebi stands as a figure of both fascination and fear. These mischievous and enigmatic beings are often described as goblins or imps, dwelling on the edges of the human world, guarding the boundaries between the realms of the living and the dead.
- Dokkaebi
- Gwishin
- Gumiho
- Jeoseung Saja
- Bul Gae
- Yong
- Haechi / Haetae
- Dal Tokki
The Most Popular Korean Mythical Creatures
The most famous Korean mythical creature of all is the dokkaebi. It is often translated as a goblin however, they are a bit different from what people from western countries might imagine. Korean goblins differ from western ones in that they are far less dim witted and vicious. In fact, the traditional dokkaebi is often depicted as a local god-like creature. Historical reports say that they were worshipped and idolized by local communities. Others say they had a reputation for enchanting wome...
The Most Vengeful Korean Mythical Creatures
The depiction of the Gwishin is similar to that of ghosts all over Asia. They are women dressed in a long white underdress with long black hair and a decaying face. These ghosts stick around until they complete unresolved issues or get revenge. Out of all the mythical creatures on our list, this is the one people claim to see the most in modern times. Two versions of the gwishin are popular in Korean folktales, virgin ghosts (cheonyeo) and water ghosts (mul gwishin) although many others exist.
Cheonyeo
People believe that cheonyeo are the cursed spirits of women who died before losing their virginity. Many now believe that tales of this type of gwishin were created to scare young women and girls into marriage. Child marriage and early motherhood were historically an important part of life for Korean women. Cheonyeo legends became highly popularized during Joseon as Korea adopted Confucianism, which placed huge importance on early marriage. Nowadays, marriage and having children isn’t so imp...
Mul Gwishin
Next is mul gwishin. These are the ghosts of people who drowned alone and whose bodies were never recovered. Or, the spirits of those who were violently murdered and disposed of in large bodies of water. The first type of mul gwishin, those who died alone, want a companion. They grab those who walk along the water’s edge, pull them in, and drown them. The second type of mul gwishin normally wants either revenge, help, or both. They often drag people into the water who resemble their killers....
The Most Majestic Korean Mythical Creatures
This mythological creature is so popular to this day, that it is often featured in Korean dramas and literature. Legend has it that if a fox lives for one thousand years, it evolves into a nine-tailed creature that can shapeshift. Although, in folktales, some cursed children are born with the spirit of the fox. They often end up shapeshifting and brutally murdering their family. Although the nin-tailed fox can become anything it wishes, its favorite form is that of a beautiful young woman. In...
The Most Human Korean Mythical Creatures
Jeoseung Saja is the Korean version of grim reapers. They escort souls to the afterlife. However, with reincarnation playing such a huge role in traditional Korean beliefs the scope of what a jeoseung saja does is a bit different than that of a western grim reaper. Similar to the western version, the jeoseung saja represents death. The Korean version of this mythical creature resembles a human but is extraordinarily pale, tall, with sharp eyes, and black lips, and wears a black hat and black...
The Most Adorable Korean Mythical Creatures
Firstly, there is a native dog breed in Korea with the same name. However, today we will be discussing the mythical creature the breed is named after. The story of the Bul Gae, or fire dog is an ancient Korean fairytale used to explain solar and lunar eclipses, According to Korean Myths, fire dogs come from the kingdom of darkness. The King of the Land of Darkness sends the dogs to bring him the son and the moon. The heat of the sun and the cold of the moon cause them to fail each time. Howev...
The Most Worshiped Korean Mythical Creatures
The Yond, Ryong, or Mireu is the Korean version of a dragon. The name of these Korean mythical creatures varies according to region and time period. Unlike Chinese or western dragons, Korean dragons have a very specific appearance. Starting with their head; they have the horns of a deer, a camel’s hair, the eyes of a rabbit, a pig nose, a goat’s beard, and the ears of a cow. For its body; it has the neck and scales of a snake, tiger paws with falcon talons, and a carp’s tail. Korean dragons a...
The Most Royal Korean Mythical Creatures
The Haechi is another mythical creature of great importance to the royal family. The mythical creature has become a symbol of Korea’s royal families and loyalty to one’s country. Haechi legends originated in northern China. The Chinese Haechi exclusively eats mulberry leaves, which are said to be the food of the gods. It is a lion-like creature with a pig nose, scales, and a mane like a cloud. It has a single horn on its head it uses to impale evildoers. However, the Korean version of the myt...
The Most Naughty Korean Mythical Creatures
The last on our list of Korean mythical creatures is the dal ttoki. Throughout the world, cultures have taken note that the craters on the moon create shadows that look like a bunny. And so, Korea has its own folktales of mythological creatures resembling rabbits that live on the moon called dal tokki or moon bunnies. Moon bunnies represent wealth, success, strength, and fertility. They were actually widely used as a symbol of the Korean people until the 1988 Olympics when Korea sought to tak...
Dokkaebi are different from ghosts, called gwishin (귀신) in Korean, in that they are not formed by the death of a human being, but rather by the spiritual possession of an inanimate object such as old discarded household tools like brooms, or objects stained with human blood.
Jan 1, 2023 · In simple terms, Dokkaebi are nature spirits that manifest as goblin like creatures. In Korean folklore, they have the ability to interact with humans and often use their powers to trick them. Dokkaebi are typically portrayed wearing a hanbok, a form of traditional Korean dress that is worn on formal occasions.
Sep 2, 2024 · The Dokkaebi are some of the most well-known figures in Korean folklore. They’re often depicted as goblin-like creatures with a love for playing tricks on humans. These stories, which have been passed down for generations, show Dokkaebi as both mischievous pranksters and protectors of nature.
Oct 9, 2024 · 도깨비 Dokkaebi (Korean Goblin) Thanks to a fairly recent Korean drama starring actor Gong Yoo, the goblin has probably become the most famous mythological creature in Korea. However, the real legend of a goblin is actually quite different from the drama’s story! The real legend goes as follows.
