Category: Korean Culture

In Korean folklore, few figures inspire as much fear and fascination as the gumiho (구미호) — the legendary nine-tailed fox. Unlike its Japanese cousin, the kitsune, or the Chinese huli jing, the Korean gumiho has long been portrayed as a dangerous, flesh-eating creature. With the ability to transform into a stunningly beautiful woman, the gumiho uses seduction and trickery to prey upon unsuspecting humans. Many folktales feature her disguises being exposed — often by a small slip, such as her tail peeking out under the moonlight.

One of the eeriest stories passed down through generations is known as “The Tale of the Fox Tail in the Moonlight.”