Imugi

The Aspiring Dragon

Imugi are giant serpentine beings in Korean mythology that have not yet become dragons. They must cultivate themselves in the mortal world for a thousand years, accumulating good karma to finally obtain the cintamani pearl and ascend as a yong. Resembling oversized scaly serpents with vestigial horns, they dwell in deep mountain lakes, plunge pools beneath waterfalls, or hidden caves. Failed imugi often turn malevolent and become village-threatening monsters, though some achieve their dreams through fateful encounters with kind-hearted humans.