The Dokkaebi
Korean folklore tells of the dokkaebi, mischievous goblins who challenge travellers to wrestling matches at night.
What was reported
In Korean folklore, dokkaebi are mischievous beings, sometimes said to be formed from old household objects like brooms. They are fond of playing tricks, love wrestling and challenge travellers to matches on lonely roads at night. Many carry a magic club that can produce whatever its owner wishes.
Stories describe dokkaebi rewarding good people and tricking greedy ones. Some tales say a traveller wrestling one all night might wake in the morning to find himself grappling with a broom or a tree.
Explanations offered
The dokkaebi are figures of folklore, different from the evil spirits of some traditions: they are usually playful rather than harmful. They remain popular in Korean children's stories, television dramas and festivals.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Across Korea
- Witnesses
- Korean tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.