Dokkaebi (도깨비)

DemonKorea · East AsiaFolktaleFear 4/10

Description

Korean goblins born from old discarded objects imbued with human energy. Unlike Japanese oni, they have no horns — love wrestling, riddles, and rewarding the good-hearted

Origin & Background

The earliest literary record of the dokkaebi can be found in the story of 'Dohwa Buin and Bihyeong' from the 'Samguk Sagi', compiled during the Goryeo Dynasty. Dokkaebi also appear in various collections of folk tales compiled during the Joseon Dynasty.

The Legend

Dokkaebi are legendary beings passed down in Korean mythology and folklore, regarded as gods or spirits of nature. They are described as having special abilities to interact with humans, sometimes playing tricks and other times providing help. Dokkaebi are depicted in various forms and faces, traditionally illustrated wearing hanbok.

In Popular Culture

An example of modern popular culture featuring dokkaebi is the tvN drama 'Goblin – The Lonely and Great God' (쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 – 도깨비). This drama incorporates unique Korean elements and gained great popularity. Additionally, the K-pop group CLC's song 'Dokkaebi' and A.C.E's 'Dokkaebi' can be seen as modern reinterpretations of the traditional image of dokkaebi. Dokkaebi also appear in various video games, where characters reflecting their traditional characteristics are being created.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Dokkaebi" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia