Ghosts in South Korea
Have you ever wondered where filmmakers find their inspiration for the horror movies? For the realistic ghosts? Asian folklore has provided the writers with plentiful source, no wonder some of the most iconic horrors came from the Far East.
Traditional Korean culture was closely entwined with the spiritual world and mysticism and shrouded by belief that humans could communicate to spirit world via shamans. There are number of phantoms that ought to be feared in Korean folklore but none as memorable as the Gwishin. Cheonyo Gwishin (Virgin Spirit) would appear as a pre-pubescent, virgin female with long dark hair and white robes. The invention of this phantom was rooted in Confucianism. It was believed that women where ought to serve their husbands or fathers, and if they died virgins, their mission was unfulfilled and therefore they returned to earth to cause trouble.
There were few ways to relieve this unsettled ghost- including a building of phallic sculptures or by uniting female Gwishin with a male contemporary during shamanic ritual. However, sightings of male ghosts seem to be significantly rarer, leaving plenty of single and terrifying ghosts to roam abandoned hospitals, schools and woodlands.
Another common ghost allegedly often sighted at Jeju island is Mul Gwishin (Water Ghost). These are water ghosts appearing in lakes, seas, rivers and even bathtubs. They are characterized as having constantly wet clothes and excessively long arms. It turns out that Mul Gwishins often feel rather lonely under the water and seek companionship in unsuspected swimmers by grabbing them with their freakishly long arms and drowning them. Who said romance is dead?
Another version of Gwishin appears as outhouse phantom (Cheuksin). Cheuksin Gwishin, as suspected, is also a virgin female ghost that used to live on the ceiling of Korean outhouses and grow extensively long dark hair. These ghosts were pretty vicious and would strangle anyone that disrespected them from the ceiling with their hair. This goddess had her comeback in the modern-time and has now been glamorously coined as the toilet ghost (Hojangsil Gwishin) and appears mostly by randomly flushing the toilet and throwing about pieces of toilet tissue, certainly had a de-motion in terms of responsibilities since the oat-house days.
Now that we have learned all about the spooky virgin Korean spirits, naturally we should find some spots to meet them. Abandoned school, hospitals, woodlands or water sources are always a good bet, but below you will find some of the most iconic ghost hang-out spots. Ghost busters strap-in!
Gonijam Psychiatric Hospital- this place was nominated as one of the most haunted places in South Korea and one of the Top 10 haunted spots in the world. Urban legend suggest that 10 people died there and still appear in the eerie corridors of the hospital. However, the official records claim that the hospital was simply closed due to poor sanitation. The spot attracted so much attention that there is even a horror film dedicated to this spot (Gonijam Haunted Asylum). The hospital is not open to the public, therefore it is best to stick with the thrills on the big-screen.
Yongma Land
Yongma Land- Another spot for thrill seekers, this is actually an abandoned theme park that has closed down in 2011 due to financial losses and an increasing competition from more grandiose establishments nearby. There have also been rumours of a girl dying on faulty rides, thus adding to the layer of mystery and possibility to witness a Gwishin. The theme park is open to the public, you can roam around and take-in the gone-by era and capture some best Insta-snaps (potentially with a local Gwishin or a K-Pop star).
Yeongdeonk House- one spooky place in a picturesque setting. According to rumours, this house has been built on a mass-grave of Korean Soldiers from the War. The ownership of the house went from hands-to-hands but all owners mysteriously died rendering the house somewhat haunted. This spot has attracted a number of occult followers and paranormal activity hunters who claim that many souls are present in its premises. It is a spooky place for potential Gwishin sighting and perhaps even a rarer male-equivalent, given all the soldiers?
These spots have now marked themselves as perfect locations for occultists, film-makers and K-pop stars. Some of these locations are not open or recommended for visitors, Yongma land is the only site that is publicly open and within easy reach from central Seoul. So, don’t be afraid and take a trip to a by-gone 80’s atmosphere in Yongma land and take a chance of meeting Gwishin or a K-Pop star at your own risk.
Author: Egle Poceviciute