dokkaebi

Dokkaebi are a class of supernatural beings in Korean folklore, commonly described as goblin-like spirits. The term is native to Korea and the creatures are often depicted as powerful, mischievous, and capricious. They are associated with mountains, forests, caves, and sometimes villages, reflecting a belief that they inhabit transitional spaces between the human world and the wild.

In traditional imagery, dokkaebi are humanoid but marked by horns, shaggy hair, rough skin, and sometimes a greenish or gray complexion. They are frequently shown carrying a wooden cudgel known as a dokkaebi bang, a magical club that can be used to summon objects, alter reality, or defend the wielder. Their clothing and appearance vary across tales, ranging from tattered garb to more elaborate outfits.

Dokkaebi are best known as tricksters who delight in practical jokes and tests of cleverness. They can be dangerous when angered, but they may also be benevolent toward people who show courage, wit, or generosity. Some stories portray them as wealth-seekers who trade favors or rewards for feats of bravery or hospitality, while others emphasize their tendency to provoke greed or deceit.

Culturally, dokkaebi appear throughout Korean folktales, songs, and festival traditions, serving as symbols of nature’s unpredictability and human ingenuity. In modern media, they are featured in literature, theater, and television, most notably in the popular 2016–2017 drama Goblin (also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God), where a dokkaebi is a central immortal character.