Goblins Arrive: Traditional Tales Hold Untapped Potential

The traditional image of folklore in children's books, once a guaranteed hit, is being revitalized by contemporary artists like Kang Hye-sook. Her new pop-up book, 'Dokkaebi King, Come Forth!', demonstrates the immense potential of old tales for modern audiences. While once dominated by folklore and myths, the picture book market is now seeing a shift, with fewer new releases based on traditional stories. This is partly due to the fast pace and intense stimuli required by today's narratives, but also because the core survival-based struggles in old tales, hunger, poverty, abuse, and battling nature, may not directly connect with the anxieties of modern children, which often stem from peer relationships, academics, and loneliness.

However, old tales are far from obsolete. The 'Vacance Project,' an artists' collective, regularly showcases new interpretations of folklore at the Seoul International Book Fair. Kang Hye-sook's latest work presents dokkaebi (Korean goblins) with magical abilities, but these creatures are depicted as playful rather than fearsome. When they encounter a young girl diligently collecting bamboo, they transform into scary figures, only to find she is too busy to be frightened. Her lack of reaction stems from the pressing need to make a living, a situation exacerbated by an indifferent 'king.' The dokkaebi, inspired, decide they want to be king too.

The story unfolds as the child promises to crown the dokkaebi who brings the most magnificent treasure. This quest leads the dokkaebi to various mythical locations like the Dragon Palace and the underworld, weaving in numerous other dokkaebi legends, effectively allowing readers to encounter a wide array of Korean goblins within a single book. Kang uses only two colors, red and blue, inspired by the Taegeuk symbol, to create a visually dynamic experience filled with contrasting colors, rhythmic lines, and a sense of auditory excitement where text and image harmonize.

Unlike traditional folklore where characters often gain wealth and prosperity through treasures, the child in 'Dokkaebi King, Come Forth!' uses the treasure to become a wise and generous person who helps others. This narrative shifts the focus from material gain to personal growth and altruism. The story's contemporary relevance lies in its exploration of solidarity and inclusion, suggesting that recognizing the 'dokkaebi', which are born from everyday objects imbued with human touch and represent the vitality of our surroundings, can lead to the creation of a better world. The child's wise approach of offering the dokkaebi joy and a sense of purpose, rather than outright rejection, prompts reflection on how we can foster a more welcoming environment for these beings and, by extension, for ourselves.

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The child, who discovered the dokkaebi, who look different from us and represent the vitality of the materials surrounding us, is wise.