kumiho

Kumiho, also spelled gumiho, is a fox spirit in Korean folklore. It is traditionally depicted as a nine-tailed fox capable of shapeshifting, most famously into a beautiful woman. The kumiho is a longstanding motif in Korean myth and is often described as a powerful and cunning creature whose age and power grow with time.

In classic tales, the kumiho is frequently portrayed as dangerous, using disguise to interact with humans and, in many versions, to sustain itself by consuming life energy. Some legends claim the creature can attain a fully human form only after a lengthy, arduous process, and in certain variants it must take a human life to complete that transformation. Other stories present the kumiho as more mischievous or ambiguous rather than outright murderous, sometimes as a temptation rather than a direct threat.

Over time, the kumiho has evolved in Korean culture. Modern retellings often cast it as a more nuanced character, sometimes a heroine or romantic figure, and frequently a tragic being torn between fox-spirit instincts and human emotions. In contemporary media—films, television series, and literature—the kumiho is reimagined in diverse ways, reflecting broader shifts in gender roles and storytelling.

The kumiho is part of a broader East Asian tradition of fox spirits, related to but distinct from the Chinese húlí and the Japanese kitsune. In Korean folklore, the kumiho's lore and symbolism remain variable across regions and periods, contributing to a flexible and enduring myth.