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SpiritKorea · East AsiaLegendFear 5/10

Description

한국 설화에 등장하는 Spirit. Korean virgin ghosts (Korean: 처녀귀신; Hanja: 處女鬼神; RR: cheonyeo-gwisin) are the spirit of a young, unm

Origin & Background

The virgin ghost in Korea is traditionally considered to be the spirit of an unmarried woman who has died and remains in existence. In traditional Korean society, women were taught that their sole purpose in life was to serve their father, husband, and children. Therefore, if they died without fulfilling their responsibilities, it was believed that they could not move on to the afterlife, harboring lifelong resentment. As a result, dying unmarried was regarded as rendering their lives meaningless, and according to legend, young unmarried girls transform into malevolent spirits after death, filled with han (한). They primarily attach themselves to and torment young girls of the same age, causing harm and even ruining families.

The Legend

The virgin ghost is typically depicted as a woman dressed in a white hanbok, with long hair flowing down. She has a pale face with dark circles under her eyes, and blood may trickle from her mouth. Sometimes she is illustrated weeping blood or covered in blood from head to toe. Virgin ghosts usually appear in abandoned buildings, hospitals, schools, restrooms, cemeteries, lakes, and dark rural roads, being active from midnight until dawn. They are known to appear out of anger and for revenge, tormenting those who have harmed them and newlywed couples.

In Popular Culture

The virgin ghost frequently appears in Korean classical literature. For example, in 'Janghwa Hongryeon Jeon', there is a scene where the virgin ghost Hongryeon appears in front of the village magistrate's office. In modern popular culture, the image of the virgin ghost can be found in various media. The 1999 film 'Ring Virus' showcases a similar depiction of the virgin ghost, and dramas such as 'Oh My Ghost', 'Arang and the Magistrate', and 'The Ghost is Alive' also treat the virgin ghost as a central theme. In 1967, a film titled 'Virgin Ghost' was released, and in 1986, the historical horror film 'Yeogoogyeong' became famous. Additionally, stories about the virgin ghost are also addressed in various plays and musical performances.

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