Dokkaebi

Introduction

Dokkaebi are creatures from folklore and mythology and have supernatural powers and abilities that allow them to interact with humans. They are one of the most prevalent supernatural beings in South Korean folklore. They are known to have both positive and negative characteristics.

Contrary to popular belief, these creatures are not monsters with supernatural powers. They are creatures that take pleasure in making people happy. In some areas of Korea, they were known to bring diseases such as smallpox. They believed that their powers allowed them to control all aquatic creatures.

They are very different from ghosts as they are not risen from the dead but rise from nature as inanimate objects to harass or help people.

Physical Traits

Dokkaebi are usually portrayed wearing a traditional Korean dress known as a hanbok. It is often colourful and has simple lines.

They have a varied and fearsome appearance. In most cases, they are depicted as being incredibly hard to tame and terrifying.

Other Names/ Types

There are several types of the creatures with various appearances and agendas. Cham dokkaebi are very mischievous, while gae dokkaebi are evil. Gim seobang dokkaebi are considered to be dumb farmers, nat dokkaebi are the only ones to appear in daylight and go dokkaebi are skilled warriors with weapons. Also, Gaksi and chonggak dokkaebi are attractive looking to humans, oenun dokkaebi have only one eye and oedari dokkaebi have only one leg and are the most fond of wrestling.

Powers and Abilities

There are many variants of the dokkaebi which has its own unique characteristics. These creatures come in different sizes and shapes. They have a long, hairy body and bulging eyes.

Some people refer to them as harmless, while others believe they are mischievous and play pranks on others. They are extremely skilled wrestlers and cannot be beaten easily. Due to their unique physical characteristics, they can only be beaten once their right side is exploited. They have various magical items, such as a hat that can give them invisibility, and a magic club that can summon things and act as a magic wand.

Modern Day Influence

Today, they can be seen in movies, television shows, and games. In Korea, the fans of the national soccer team have created a dokkaebi face as their mascot.