Every myth carries a truth older than the civilization that told it.
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The haetae or haechi, Korea’s lion-like guardian beast — judge of guilt and innocence, devourer of fire, protector of palace gates, and the official
The gumiho, Korea’s nine-tailed fox — a thousand-year shapeshifter who becomes a beautiful woman to devour human livers and hearts, bearer of the
The dokkaebi, Korea’s goblin born from discarded objects — wielder of the wish-granting magic club, lover of wrestling, giver of wealth to the good and
The myth of Ungnyeo, the bear who endured Hwanung’s hundred-day trial of mugwort and garlic to become a woman, then bore the founder-king Dangun — Korea’s
Hwanung, son of the Lord of Heaven, who descended to Taebaek Mountain with the gods of wind, rain and cloud, made a bear into the woman Ungnyeo, and
The legend of Dangun Wanggeom, founder of Gojoseon — born of the god Hwanung and the bear-woman Ungnyeo, ruler of Korea’s first kingdom and later a
