[KoreaUrbanLegend] Mangtae Grandpa
The figure of the "Mangtae Grandpa" appears in various stories, known for taking children away. The tales vary, with some suggesting he eats the children or that they can never return home, while others depict a scenario where they are scolded and sent back. Depending on the region, he might be called "Barang Grandpa" or "Salt Merchant," and in a poem by Lee Yong-ak, he appears as "Gajujin," reflecting a local tradition from his hometown in North Korea.
In the late 1990s, the animated series *Kkobikkobbi* featured a character called the "Mangtae Dokkebi," based on this folklore, where it was revealed that bad children are needed for the revival of Mangtae Grandpa. The story suggests that a parent must tell their child that Mangtae Grandpa will take them for him to appear.
Though the tales of Mangtae Grandpa still exist as folk narratives, they have become unfamiliar to modern children, who are more accustomed to phrases like "Ajeossi Innom" (Hey, Mister!).
In Park Yeon-cheol's book *Mangtae Grandpa is Coming*, this character is portrayed as a real entity. The protagonist’s mother frequently uses the threat of Mangtae Grandpa to control her child. One night, Mangtae Grandpa truly appears, but instead of taking the child, it is the mother who does. She comforts the frightened child, but behind her, there is the stamp of Mangtae Grandpa, adding a layer of tension.
Thus, the character of Mangtae Grandpa continues to be a fascinating subject, evolving in modern narratives.
