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SpiritKorea · East AsiaLegendFear 4/10

Description

한국 설화에 등장하는 Spirit. In Chinese folklore, the guishen (鬼神, lit. "ghost deity") is a ghost or a spirit; likewise, in Kore

The Legend

In Korean legends, a ghost (gwisin) is considered a type of deity, sacred being, spirit, or specter. They are regarded as similar to yokai or monsters. Unlike dokkaebi, ghosts are deceased humans. According to legend, ghosts can be found in various places, and if an individual has died but remains connected to the world due to reasons such as vengeance or caring for a loved one, their soul is said to linger on earth to fulfill their mission before going to the underworld. There are various legends about ghosts, often created by children to tease each other or told by parents to impart lessons. The most common plot involving ghosts revolves around revenge, often manifesting as vengeance for the ghost's family. Another popular theme includes stories about men who deceived their wives and men who committed murder.

In Popular Culture

The appearance of ghosts often occurs in high schools, popularized by the 1998 Korean horror film 'Yeogo Goedam' (Whispering Corridors). There are various types of ghosts, and according to legend, they are usually depicted as transparent, legless, and floating in the air. A virgin ghost (cheonyeo gwisin) is the spirit of an unmarried woman who died, typically dressed in a white hanbok worn at funerals, with long black hair flowing down, and sometimes lacking a face depending on their personality. A bachelor ghost (cheongak gwisin) is the male version of a virgin ghost, referring to an unmarried man who died. A water ghost (mul gwisin) is the spirit of someone who drowned, believed to lure innocent people into the water due to jealousy or loneliness. A grudge ghost (wonhan gwisin) is the spirit of someone who died unjustly, while a murder ghost (salin gwisin) specifically refers to someone who was murdered. A suicide ghost (jasal gwisin) is the soul of someone who took their own life. One well-known method to prevent danger from ghosts is to hang a sieve above the house, and another method is to burn hair and sprinkle the ashes in the yard.

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