15) Korea - 9. Yagwngwi (Night Ghost)

Its name is presumed to originate from the Buddhist 'Yakwang' (Medicine King), and in pure Korean, it's called 'Yang-gwaengi'. Depending on the region, it's variously called Shinbal-gwisin (Gyeonggi Province), Yagwi-halmeom (Northern Gyeonggi Province), Dalgwi-gusin or Mago-halmi (Chungbuk Province), Ttotjaebi (Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do), Gomai (Goseong, Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do), and so on. It is small, about 130cm tall, with a distorted face and bulging eyes, and usually wears a colorful striped jacket (seokdong jeogori) or clothes with mottled patterns. It is generally known to appear as a child, but as the regional names suggest, tales of it appearing as an old woman also exist. It appears on the first month of the lunar new year, the first full moon of the lunar new year, or the 16th day of the first lunar month, considered the day of ghosts. It wanders into houses, tries on shoes, and if they fit, it takes them and leaves. Those who have their shoes stolen by the Yagwngwi suffer bad luck, such as injury or illness, and in severe cases, may even die. Since the Yagwngwi does not enter the main room (anbang), it is said that hiding shoes in the main room is effective. If a sieve is hung outside, the Yagwngwi, which can only count up to 2 (or 4, depending on the tradition), counts the holes in the sieve, and when the rooster crows, it leaves.