✦ A Korean Folktale ✦
The Old Man and the Goblins
혹부리 영감 · Hokbulli Yeonggam
A song under the moon
The story
The tale of The Old Man and the Goblins
An old man with a big lump on his cheek gets lost in the mountains and stumbles on a goblin feast. When he sings beautifully, the dokkaebi believe his lump is the source — and take it in exchange for treasure. A greedy neighbor tries the same trick, but the goblins are wise to him and stick an extra lump on his face instead.
한국어로 읽기
착한 영감의 얼굴에는 큰 혹이 하나 있었어요. 어느 날 산에서 길을 잃은 영감이 도깨비들의 잔치를 보게 됐어요. 노래를 잘 부르는 영감에게 도깨비들은 '혹이 노래 주머니'라고 믿고 보물과 바꿔 혹을 가져갔어요. 그 소식을 들은 욕심 많은 다른 영감이 따라했지만, 도깨비들은 화가 나 그에게 혹을 하나 더 붙여주었답니다.
Origin
Where this tale comes from
One of Korea's most-loved goblin tales. Dokkaebi here aren't scary monsters — they're mischievous, friendly spirits who love a good song.
도깨비가 등장하는 한국 옛이야기 중 가장 사랑받는 이야기예요. 도깨비가 진짜 무서운 귀신이 아니라, 친근하고 장난기 많은 존재로 그려져요.
Vocabulary
Korean words you'll meet in "The Old Man and the Goblins"
- 도깨비dokkaebi/doh-KEH-bee/
A Korean goblin — horned, club-wielding, mischievous, and surprisingly friendly.
- 혹hok/HOK/
A round lump on the face or neck — a cyst.
- 방망이bangmangi/BAHNG-mahng-ee/
A magical club a dokkaebi carries — strike it and your wish appears.
- 영감yeonggam/YOHNG-gahm/
An old, affectionate word for an elderly man — like "grandpa."
- 잔치janchi/JAHN-chee/
A festive gathering with food and music — a feast.
Scenes
Color each moment of the story
This folktale becomes a 5-page coloring storybook in the app. Two of these pages branch — you choose which path the story takes.
The Lonely Hut
An old man with a lump on his cheek gets lost while gathering wood. In the dark, he finds a small hut glowing with lantern light. Peeking inside, he sees dokkaebi pounding their clubs and having a noisy feast.
Singing with the Goblins
He breaks into a cheerful tune. The dokkaebi clap and roar with delight. One of them asks, "Where does such a fine song come from, old man?"
The Feast from the Shadows
Hidden, he watches the dokkaebi play among heaps of treasure. One of them spots him and wags a finger. "Did you come to steal, or to play?"
Home Without the Lump · 🎁 The Storyteller ending
Laughing, the dokkaebi plucked the lump from his cheek and filled his pocket with a shining silk purse. He walked home down the dawn path light-footed. He became the village storyteller, and children lined up to hear his tales.
The Path with Goblin Friends · 🌫️ The Goblin Friends ending
From that night on, the old man counted the dokkaebi as friends. On nights when the moon was full, their singing drifted down from the ridge. Travelers said they sometimes spotted him on the mountain road, arms around his goblin companions.
Our version
What's different in the app
The original has a greedy second old man for contrast. We focus on the first old man's choices — joke honestly with the dokkaebi, or befriend them for life.
원작에서 욕심쟁이 영감의 결말이 따로 있지만, 우리는 첫 번째 영감의 두 가지 선택만 보여줘요. 정직하게 농담을 하거나, 도깨비와 친구가 되는 길.
Color your way through The Old Man and the Goblins
Free · bilingual · branching endings · no sign-up · printable PDF when you finish.
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