5 Supernatural Creatures In Korean Folkore

Writer: Bhavika Sachan (Delhi, India)

Editor: Prachi Vaid (Delhi, India)

Korean mythology comprises folk tales and legends from various regions of North and South Korea that have become an integral part of Korean culture. It is a combination of local traditions and influences from religions such as Korean Shamanism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The earliest written records of these myths date back to the twelfth century, although they existed in an oral form even before this. Numerous mythological stories and creation myths make up the peninsula. The following are some interesting ones: 

도깨비 DOKKAEBI (KOREAN GOBLIN)

Goblins are created from objects that have been discarded when they are stained with human blood and bear no similarity to human appearance. Korean Dokkaebi is supposed to have only one leg on the right side. Goblins are super mischievous and riddle passing travellers, even challenging them to a wrestling match. They all appear different from one another, but the general belief is that they all appear fearsome. They are also believed to carry magical objects on their persons. Actor Gong Yoo played the role of the goblin in one of his dramas, “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”, making this mythological creature really popular around the world.

구미호 GUMIHO (NINE-TAILED FOX)

Commonly used as a character trope in many Korean dramas, the Nine-tailed fox is a well-known creature. Its portrayal, in entertainment series, is usually of a beautiful girl or a man cursed to become this creature, and can only become free with true love. The plots are usually tragic or melodramatic, often involving long separation periods between lovers and ultimately leading to their emancipation. The real legend is even sadder and gruesome. The creature, which looks like a fox, retains the ability to transform into a beautiful girl to lure men close enough to eat their livers. It is believed that if the Gumiho can refrain from eating human flesh for a thousand days, it can become human.

저승사자 JEOSUNG SAJA (KOREAN GRIM REAPER)

Korean Grim Reapers are meant to guide the dead into the afterlife. Traditionally, they wore a black hanbok, coupled with a black hat, and were often seen on a wooden boat. They were meant to help the dead cross the river (or the sea) – a spiritual symbol of life without regrets, leaving behind material and worldly worries. Nowadays, they are often shown wearing a long black coat with a fedora, especially after the portrayal of Lee Dong-wook in the K-drama, “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.” These figures are feared among Koreans as they are representatives of death and considered an ill omen. 

불개 BULGAE (FIRE DOGS)

Bulgae belonged to the kingdom of darkness in Korean mythology. It is believed that they are responsible for the moon’s eclipses. In the legend, the Fire Dogs’ king was concerned about the kingdom’s darkness; therefore, he sent these fire dogs to capture the moon and the sun. Unfortunately, the moon and the sun proved to be too cold and too hot for them to handle. And the dogs would burn or freeze when they tried to capture them. The king, however, refused to give up. As such, a lunar or solar eclipse occurs each time a dog tries to retrieve the moon or the sun for its master and fails. 

삼족오 SAMJOKO (THREE-LEGGED CROW)

This creature was the primary symbol of the Goguryeo Dynasty. The three-legged crow is believed to be a resident of the Sun. Thus, they were seen to be sun gods and actually had mightier powers than dragons and dragon gods. The creature was used as a symbol to throw light on the power of the Taewang (literally “Emperor” or “Greatest of Kings”) and Goguryeo’s sovereignty. 

In addition to these mythological creatures, Korean mythology also entails numerous gods as well as notable human beings. Many of these creatures feature in more than one Korean folklore, and the story varies as it gets orally transferred from one milieu to another.

If any of these myths got you really interested, please let us know in the comments below, and we’ll get back to you with more intriguing history behind these tales!