The Tale of a Nine Tailed Episode 1 "The Legend of Fox Pass(Yeougogae)" (Feat. Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020))

The story of the Fox Pass, which appears in "The Tale of a Nine Tailed" is one of the legends that actually exist in Korea. Let's take a look at the story of the Fox Pass that was used as the subject of the drama.

What is a Yeougogae?

'Yeougogae' is a compound word combining 'yeo-u' (meaning fox) and 'gogae' (meaning mountain pass), referring to a mountain pass that connects two areas blocked by mountains. It can be roughly translated to "Fox Pass" in English.

In Korea, there is actually a place called 'Yeou-gogae', and there are many regions or villages with fox-related folktales, which may explain why there are so many places with that name all over the country. The Yeou-gogae featured in <Tale of the Nine-Tailed> is estimated to be in Gwacheon City, considering the fact that it is passed by a bus in Gyeonggi Province.

The Yeougogae in Gwacheon is also known for a famous folktale called "Aeuyadam," which has been passed down through generations.

"Yeou-gogae" in 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed'.

The drama "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" mainly uses Korean folktales and legends as its subject matter, but the story of "Yeougogae" in episode 1 is not closely related to any traditional legends or fairy tales.

In Korea, the fox is often associated with the image of an animal that bewitches people, and there are many ghost stories related to it. In the story of Yeougogae, the fox in the drama is also associated with that image. In this urban legend, the fox that appears leads people to get on the bus and causes an accident that kills everyone on board. Foxes are believed to have the power to bewitch people in Korean folklore, and this story is a modern take on that belief.

In the drama <Tale of the Nine Tailed >, the character associated with the Yeougogae legend appears as a villain who seeks to harm the female protagonist. However, with the help of a character named Jeongseung, the protagonist's life is saved by chance. Later, the Gumiho named Yi Yeon appears and punishes the villain, but instead of dying, the villain comes back as a threat to the protagonist once again.