Baekjeong Gwisin: The Restless Spirits of Social Outcasts

In traditional Korean society, the Baekjeong were a marginalized class often associated with occupations such as butchery and leatherwork. In folklore, this social reality carried into the spiritual world through the concept of Baekjeong Gwisin (백정귀신).

These spirits were believed to be the souls of those who experienced hardship, discrimination, or unresolved suffering during life.

Unlike ordinary ghosts, Baekjeong Gwisin represent social memory—echoes of injustice that linger beyond death.

They are not necessarily violent, but their presence reflects unease and imbalance.

Stories involving these spirits often carry a moral undertone, highlighting the consequences of inequality and neglect.

In Korean mythology, not all ghosts come from personal tragedy. Some emerge from the structure of society itself.

Baekjeong Gwisin serve as reminders that injustice leaves lasting marks, even beyond the grave.