Dokkaebi

Region: East Asia
Location:Korea (mountains, abandoned houses, crossroads)

Dokkaebi are Korean goblins known for their mischief, magical strength, and unpredictable sense of humor. They are not dead spirits but supernatural beings formed from inanimate objects imbued with spiritual energy — such as old brooms, clay jars, or tools left unused for too long. They appear with distinctive features: horn-like lumps on their heads, wide grins, and colorful robes. Some carry magical clubs (*dokkaebi bangmangi*) that can summon wealth, food, or objects — though usually with chaotic results.
  Their behavior blends generosity with trickery. Dokkaebi enjoy challenging humans to wrestling matches, strength contests, riddles, or drinking games. Those who behave honorably or entertain the dokkaebi may be rewarded with treasure or protection. But people who are greedy, lazy, or deceitful are humiliated — sometimes by illusions, sometimes through physical pranks, sometimes by being abandoned naked on a distant mountain. Their sense of justice is skewed but consistent: they reward wit and punish arrogance.
  Though often comical, Dokkaebi also embody nature’s unpredictability. They wander forests, appear at lonely roads at dusk, and gather at abandoned structures. Their stories teach lessons about humility and cleverness while celebrating humor as a survival tool. In Korean culture, Dokkaebi remain beloved figures who represent chaos, generosity, and the thrill of encountering something extraordinary in an otherwise ordinary world.

World
Koina
Owner
kaixabu
Views
4
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The spark is human. The polish is digital.

 

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