Dokkaebi

spirit · North Korea · East Asia and Pacific

Dokkaebi (도깨비) are the goblins of Korean folklore: mischievous spirits said to form from objects stained with human blood or from old discarded household tools. They appear as horned, ugly beings who play pranks, trade using barley-straw or wooden money that turns back to leaves, and can be driven away with fire, pork, or red beans. Their magic club (dokkaebi bangmangi) is said to summon treasure.

Open in the interactive archive →