Lee Dong-wook walking through the rain with a red umbrella isn't just a vibe. It's an entire cultural reset for K-drama fans. When Tale of the Nine Tailed first hit screens back in 2020, people expected another Goblin clone. They were wrong. Instead of a brooding immortal waiting for a bride to end his life, we got Lee Yeon—a cynical, mint-chocolate-chip-ice-cream-loving deity who happens to be a 1,000-year-old fox.
He’s basically a civil servant for the afterlife.
It’s weird. It’s dark. Honestly, it’s one of the most clever reimaginings of Korean folklore ever put to film. Most Western audiences know the "Gumiho" (the nine-tailed fox) as a seductive female monster who eats livers. This show flips the script. It makes the fox male, gives him a tragic backstory involving a lost mountain spirit, and pits him against a literal ancient serpent called the Imoogi.
If you haven't seen it, you're missing out on a masterclass in urban fantasy. If you have, you know that the chemistry between Lee Yeon and his chaotic half-brother Lee Rang (played by Kim Bum) is the actual heart of the story.
The Folklore Behind Tale of the Nine Tailed
Korean mythology is deep. Like, really deep. Most people don't realize that nearly every monster or "guest" Lee Yeon hunts down in the series is based on actual records from the Samguk Yusa or local oral traditions.
Take the Bulgasari. In the show, it appears as a creature that feeds on nightmares. In reality, the Bulgasari is a legendary beast from the Goryeo period that eats iron. The show’s writers, Han Woo-ri, did this incredible thing where they took these ancient, dusty legends and gave them modern corporate jobs. One of the best examples is the Afterlife Immigration Office. It’s run by Taluipa, the sister of King Enma (the ruler of hell). She spends her days filing paperwork for deceased souls and screaming at a slow computer system.
It’s relatable. It’s funny. It also makes the supernatural feel heavy and grounded.
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The central conflict revolves around the Imoogi. In Korean legend, an Imoogi is a "lesser" dragon. Think of it as a giant serpent that needs to catch a "Yeouiju" (a mystical pearl) to become a full-fledged celestial dragon. In Tale of the Nine Tailed, the Imoogi is a psychological predator. It doesn't just want to destroy the world; it wants Lee Yeon's position, his woman, and his dignity.
Why the Male Gumiho Was a Risk
Traditionally, Gumihos are women. From the 1994 film The Fox with Nine Tails to the 2010 hit My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, the trope was always about a dangerous woman trying to become human.
By casting Lee Dong-wook, the production team at tvN took a massive gamble. They transformed the fox from a femme fatale into a fallen king. Lee Yeon was once the mountain spirit of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. He gave up his status for a mortal woman. That shift—from a predator seeking humanity to a god who chose human suffering—is why the emotional stakes feel so much higher here than in your average rom-com.
The Bromance That Saved the Show
Let’s be real for a second. While the romance between Lee Yeon and Nam Ji-ah (Jo Bo-ah) is the "plot," the relationship between the two brothers is why people stayed.
Lee Rang is a mess. He’s a half-blood who feels abandoned by his brother and spends centuries causing chaos just to get a reaction. Kim Bum’s performance here is legendary. One minute he’s a psychopathic killer, the next he’s a heartbroken kid who just wants his big brother to come home.
Their dynamic isn't just for "shipping" or fan service. It’s a literal exploration of Confucian values—loyalty, family debt, and the idea of "Han" (a uniquely Korean sense of deep-seated grief and resentment). When they finally face off, it’s not just a fight; it’s a 600-year-old family therapy session with swords.
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Visuals, Vibe, and the Red Umbrella
Director Kang Shin-hyo knew exactly what he was doing with the color palette. You’ll notice that whenever Lee Yeon is in his "god" mode, the reds are oversaturated. The red umbrella isn't just a prop; it represents protection and his lingering connection to his past life.
- The Setting: They used locations like the Korean Folk Village to contrast the ancient world with the glass-and-steel of modern Seoul.
- The Wardrobe: Lee Yeon wears exclusively high-end, structured coats. It’s a visual cue that he’s clinging to order in a world that’s becoming increasingly chaotic.
- The Action: Unlike many K-dramas that rely on "floaty" wire work, the fights in Tale of the Nine Tailed feel visceral. There’s a weight to the hits.
There’s also the 1938 sequel to consider. Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 shifted the tone entirely, moving into a colonial-era action-adventure vibe. It proved the franchise wasn't just a one-hit-wonder. It showed that this universe has "legs"—or tails, I guess.
Common Misconceptions About the Series
A lot of people think this is a remake of Goblin. It’s not. While both feature Lee Dong-wook and supernatural themes, the DNA is different. Goblin is a poem about death and rebirth. Tale of the Nine Tailed is an urban legend thriller.
Another big mistake? Thinking it’s a lighthearted watch.
The middle episodes get dark. There’s a forest of the starved, children being sold to spirits, and a lot of body horror involving scales and mirrors. It leans heavily into the "horror" aspect of folk tales. Grimm’s Fairy Tales style.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re diving back in, pay attention to the background characters. The Snail Bride (the restaurant owner) is a tragic figure from a very specific Korean folk tale about a man who finds a wife in a shell, only to lose her to a greedy magistrate. Her presence in the show as a modern chef is a nod to how these stories never really die; they just change clothes.
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Also, watch the mirrors. Mirrors are a recurring motif throughout the series. They represent the barrier between the human world and the spirit world. Every time a character looks into a mirror, they are usually facing a truth they’re trying to hide.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to experience the "vibe" of the show in real life, there are actually things you can do beyond just binging it on Netflix or Viki.
- Read the Original Tales: Look up the story of the Imoogi and the Governor and the Gumiho. Understanding the source material makes the "twists" in the show much more satisfying.
- Visit the Locations: If you’re ever in South Korea, the Korean Folk Village in Yongin is where many of the "ancient" scenes were filmed. It’s eerie how much it feels like stepping into the show.
- Check Out the Spin-offs: Don't skip the "Tale of the Nine Tailed: Taluipa’s Office" shorts or the 1938 season. They add layers to the world-building that the main series only hints at.
- Listen to the OST: The soundtrack, especially "Blue Moon" by Kim Jong-wan, is specifically designed to mimic the rhythm of a fox's heartbeat—or so the composers claimed in production interviews.
Tale of the Nine Tailed succeeded because it respected the intelligence of its audience. It didn't over-explain the magic. It just invited you into a world where a fox might be your next-door neighbor, and the girl you like might be carrying a piece of a dragon inside her.
It’s a story about the choices we make when eternity is on the table. For Lee Yeon, the choice was always simple: Love is worth the wait, even if it takes six centuries and a few hundred dead monsters to get there.
To truly understand the impact of the series, look at how it paved the way for other "urban folklore" dramas like The Uncanny Counter or My Roommate is a Gumiho. It proved there was a massive appetite for gritty, modern takes on ancient spirits. The "Nine Tailed" universe isn't just a show; it's a blueprint for how to keep traditional culture alive in a digital age.
Watch it for the action, stay for the brothers, and maybe keep a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream nearby. Just in case.