49) Korea - 21. Geogugwi (+ Cheonguidonja)

Using the Hanja characters for 'huge' (巨), 'mouth' (口), and 'ghost' (鬼), it means 'a ghost with a huge mouth.' As its name suggests, it is said to have such a massive mouth that its upper lip touches the sky and its lower lip touches the ground. Despite its terrifying appearance, when it encounters an extraordinary person, it transforms into a boy in blue clothes called 'Cheonguidonja' (Blue-Clad Boy) to assist and protect that person. The following is an excerpt from the Eou Yadam: Shin Suk-ju was on his way to Sungkyunkwan with his friends to take the state examination when he encountered Geogugwi. His terrified friends fled, but Shin Suk-ju immediately walked straight into Geogugwi's mouth. Then, in front of Shin Suk-ju, Cheonguidonja appeared, bowed, and asked to be taken along, promising to do as instructed. Shin Suk-ju agreed, and Cheonguidonja stayed by his side constantly, helping him achieve the top rank in the exam and informing him of all good or bad events before they happened. As years passed and Shin Suk-ju's death approached, Cheonguidonja tearfully bid farewell and disappeared somewhere. Shortly after, Shin Suk-ju also passed away.