Legends and Origins of Water Ghosts in Korean Folktales | Why We Were We Always Told to Watch Our Ankles by the Water?
When you went to a valley or riverside for a summer retreat, you probably heard something like this from adults at least once when you were young. “Do not go to deep water. A water spirit will grab your ankles.” Although it may sound like a scary story when you think about it now, the legends of water spirits passed down from ancient times do not contain stories intended merely to scare people. They are infused with fear and sorrow for those who lost their lives in the water, as well as the community's warning to avoid accidents at dangerous watersides. In Korean folklore, water ghosts are commonly associated with water malevolent spirits or the vengeful souls of those who drowned. So why did people believe that water ghosts held people back by the ankles? Today, we will take a step-by-step look at the origins and characteristics of Korean water ghost legends, as well as their significance from a modern perspective. What is a water ghost? The image of a vengeful spirit left in th...