5 Korean Ghosts and Creatures To Be Scared Of

Whether you’re interested in reading some spooky tales before Halloween this year, or just interested in Korean folklore and mythology, there are some truly creepy and scary creatures you should learn about.

From the vengeful spirits of the gwishin, who wander the earth unfulfilled, to the cunning dokkaebi, who navigate the moral compass of right and wrong with mischief, they are just the beginning to the lore you can explore in Korean history and culture. Korean mythology is fascinating… you’ll see.

Find out about the creatures that will freak you out in Korea:

• What To Know About Korean Myths and Folktales
• Gwishin (귀신)
• Dokkaebi (도깨비)
• Gumiho (구미호)
• Jeoseung Saja (저승사자)
• Yeomna (염라)

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What To Know About Korean Myths and Folktales

When you begin to delve into the world of Korean folklore and myths, you’ll find that there is a fascinating number of creatures, gods, and spirits that you can learn about. Korean lore is an interesting amalgamation of cultural elements and beliefs including Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism, and Confucianism which makes it super interesting but can also be cause for confusion as you try to figure out how the stories are connected… and they’re not always as they come from various regions of Korea at various times in history.

There are three categories of supernatural and mythological creatures in Korea:

• Mindam (민담): Folklore
• Shinhwa (신화): Myths
• Jeonseol (전설): Legends

Most of the scary creatures and ghosts fall into the myths and folklore categories; “shin” even refers to spirits, ghosts, and monsters.

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Gwishin (귀신)

The most well-known Korean creatures of myth are the gwishin (귀신), or Korean ghosts or spirits that have business to take care of. They have not fulfilled their purpose on earth and thus they are left to roam the earth and are considered quite vengeful. There are a number of different kinds of Korean ghosts you should be aware of. 

• Cheonyo gwishin (처녀귀신): The most common kind of gwishin is the virgin girl who could not serve her purpose, which usually meant serving her father. She can be identified by her white mourning clothes called sobok (소복), long hair that is left down and night tied back as a married woman would have it. Today, many people believe this tale of a ghost was made up to scare young women into marriage. During the Joseon period when Korea adopted Confucianism, there was importance placed on marrying very young in order to have kids.
• Chonggak gwishin (총각귀신) or Mongdal gwishin (몽달귀신): This is the male equivalent of the cheonyo gwishin.
• Mul gwishin (물귀신): The ghost of someone who drowned alone and their body was never recovered, or they were killed and disposed of in water. They are known to grab on to people and pull them into water so they can have a companion. Mul (물) means water so you can remember this easily by the name.
• Dalgyal gwishin (달걀귀신): A ghost with no discernible facial features, this ghost is commonly referred to as an “egg ghost”. Roaming the mountains in Korea, they are said to stalk and torment hikers and it is said that anyone that looks at this gwishin will die instantly. Without descendants to hold jesa, or memorial rites, for them, these spirits are gradually stripped of what humanity and personality they once had and are cursed to a wretched existence in their afterlives. 

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Dokkaebi (도깨비)

Another well-known creature from Korean mythology is the dokkaebi (도깨비) which look like demons with horns, fangs, and distorted faces possibly featuring just a single eye. They usually come with a few enchanted objects like a gamtu (감투), a hat which grants them invisibility, and a bangmangi (방망이), a club that lets them summon any object they want.

They are mischievous and fond of playing games and while they are considered demons or goblins, they are also quite similar to Robin Hood as they like to steal from the rich and give to the poor, or those they deem worthy. They also have the reputation for enchanting women which would result in demi-god children with supernatural abilities. Traditionally, communities would even worship their dokkaebi. 

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Gumiho (구미호)

Often featured in Korean dramas and stories, this nine-tailed fox creature has been apart of Korean folklore since the Three Kingdoms period (57BC – 668AD). Gumiho is said to be born when a fox lives for a thousand years at which point it gains the ability to shape-shift, often taking the form of a beautiful young woman who use a magical marble to bewitch people to take possession of their spirit.

Gumiho likes to seduce men and then eat their hearts, or livers, depending on which story you read. The tale says that she so wanted to become human, but in order to do so, must eat the human organs for 100 days in a row.

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Jeoseung Saja (저승사자)

The Korean version of the grim reaper, they escort souls to the afterlife. Resembling humans, the jeoseung saja represent death so they are usually quite pale, tall, and have sharp eyes with black lips and wear black hats and Hanboks.

They aren’t exactly like the grim reaper of the west though as they can be sympathetic and will sometimes help souls resolve their unfinished business and may even take bribes in exchange for letting someone live longer. 

It is said that once a jeoseung saja calls your name three times, you die and your soul is transported to the underworld. However, the jeoseung saja can be tricked and the wrong soul may be taken. 

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Yeomna (염라)

The ruler of the underworld, he has the highest authority when it comes to passing judgement on dead spirits. He decides the fate of dead souls after evaluating ones sins. Yeomna dispatches the Jeoseung where needed.

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