Korea’s Ghosts and Cryptids
We’re traveling to Korea to explore two powerful parts of its folklore: the wandering ghosts known as 귀신 (gwishin) and the legendary creatures that haunt its mountains, rivers, and villages.
Korean ghost stories are deeply tied to the country’s Confucian roots, where ancestor rites, social order, and spiritual obligations define much of life and death. A 귀신 (gwishin) is a spirit who could not move on to the afterlife. Often, these ghosts remain because they died tragically or without proper rituals. The 처녀귀신 (cheonyeo gwishin), or virgin ghost, is one of the most well-known. She appears in white, with long black hair, and is said to wander because she died unmarried and has no place in her family’s ancestral offerings. The 물귀신 (mul gwishin) is the spirit of someone who drowned and is said to drag the living underwater to take their place. The most chilling is the 달걀귀신 (dalgyal gwishin), or egg ghost, a faceless spirit with no eyes, nose, or mouth. Seeing one is considered an omen of death.
Korean folklore is also filled with cryptids and shapeshifters that reflect the power and mystery of the natural world. The 구미호 (gumiho), or nine-tailed fox, is a classic shape-shifter that takes the form of a beautiful woman and lures victims to steal their hearts or livers. The 이무기 (imugi) is a giant serpent trying to become a true dragon, representing transformation and the struggle for power. The 불가사리 (bulgasari), or Iron Eater, devours metal and symbolizes an unstoppable force. The 해태 (haetae) is a lion-like guardian creature that protects against disaster and injustice. Statues of haetae still stand at government buildings in Seoul, watching silently over the city.
These beings are not just fantasy. They reflect Korea’s cultural fears, values, and relationship to nature. Ghosts like the gwishin speak to loneliness, grief, and the importance of ritual. Creatures like the gumiho or imugi tap into deeper anxieties about transformation, temptation, and chaos. Whether they are warnings or protectors, these beings feel deeply tied to the land itself.
Even today, these stories are alive. You’ll find them in Korean dramas, horror films, folklore festivals, and online forums. Some people still share tales of seeing a pale woman on the roadside or hearing strange sounds near the water. Others swear they saw a fox with too many tails vanish into the woods.
Korean folklore reminds us that the unseen world is never far away. The spirits of the past still walk with us, and the monsters of legend still breathe in the shadows.
