Korean Ghosts: White Clothes, Long Hair, Died Before Marriage

When talking about Korean ghosts, almost everyone imagines the same look: white hanbok, long black hair flowing loose, face hidden behind the hair.

This kind of ghost is called a "virgin ghost," meaning a girl who died before getting married. Older generations believe that those who die unmarried have great resentment in their hearts—no husband, no children, no one to worship them, no way to be reborn, so they can only remain in the human world. Thus, in Korean villages of the past, if a girl died unmarried, a special ceremony would be held to "marry" her to a man who had already passed away, to comfort her soul; this is called a "ghost marriage."

The most famous virgin ghost story is the legend of Arang. It is said that during the Joseon era, in the government office of Miryang, there was a beautiful girl named Arang. Because she refused to obey a government runner, she was killed and thrown into a bamboo grove. Later, each new magistrate who took office was scared to death on his first night. Eventually, a brave magistrate arrived who was not afraid. After listening to her grievances and clearing her wrongful conviction, the vengeful spirit finally found peace. This story was later adapted into several films, as well as dances and songs. The 2003 film *A Tale of Two Sisters* was based on another sister's legend from the Joseon era.

Another well-known one is the "Dokkaebi" (도깨비)—not a ghost, but a monster made from old things, which likes to wrestle people. Legend says that if you encounter one walking at night, it will insist on competing with you. If you win, tie it to a tree with a belt, and the next day when you go to look, it is just an old broom.

If you lose, there are different versions: some say you are knocked unconscious, others say you are dragged into the mountains.

Korea has a summer custom of "telling ghost stories to cool off." From 1977 to the late 1980s, Korean television aired a program called *Legend's Hometown*, each episode telling a ghost story. For an entire summer, every household gathered around the TV, watching while frightened. Many Koreans, even now, when they mention it, remember themselves as children diving under the covers.

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