Korean Dokkaebi and Fireball Motifs

Record summary

Korean dokkaebi traditions sometimes include fire, lights, strange nighttime encounters, and treasure or mischief motifs, although the modern horned goblin image is only one representation. Folklore dictionaries, school texts, museums, and television adaptations in the period helped negotiate differences between regional narratives and standardized popular culture. This lead is valuable for comparing luminous trickster imagery with Japanese yokai and Chinese spirit traditions. Researchers must identify the specific Korean term and source context rather than assuming every dokkaebi story involves a fireball.