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Dokkaebi

Dokkaebi · The Korean Goblin — A Capricious Spirit of Mischief and Wealth

A signature creature of Korean folklore, said to arise from old objects or implements such as bloodstained brooms and pestles. Playful and capricious, it loves wrestling and pranks. Wielding a wish-granting club, it bestows or seizes wealth, valuing promises and repayment while mischievously tormenting people.

Origin

Rooted in the folk belief that spirits dwell in objects. Originally a friendly hornless figure, the modern horned image was overlaid through the influence of Japanese oni iconography during the colonial period.

Features

Arises from old objects and implements
A wish-granting magic club
Wrestling and pranks, a capricious temperament
Loves buckwheat jelly and liquor, values promises

Stories

Appears as a capricious being that grants or seizes wealth and luck, and a comic creature that wagers and wrestles with humans. A staple character of Korean folktales blending moral lesson with humor.

Weakness

Shuns horse blood and buckwheat, and binds itself strictly to the rules of a promise or wager. It carries playful flaws — such as its weakness being revealed if one circles to the left.