I finally figured out who this guy is. It’s Korea’s very own horned lion beast Haetae (or Xiezhi in Chinese). He can travel through time, breath fire, prevent natural disasters, and create a lunar eclipse by biting the moon.
According to Wikipedia, “Haetae sculptures were used in architecture during the early Joseon dynasty, as their image was trusted to be able to protect Hanyang (now Seoul) from natural disasters and to give law and order among the populace.” Today you can see Haetae sculptures at palaces like Gyoengbokgung in Seoul, and some homes around Korea. In 2009, Seoul chose Haechi (not sure why they changed the name) as the symbol of the city.
About the photo
I took this photo at Yongdusan Park in Busan, right below Busan Tower, during the Lantern Festival. The festival takes place every year for about a week or two before Buddha’s Birthday (usually in May). There were a bunch of life-size lanterns of people and other things representing Korean culture. It’s worth a visit, especially if you can be there for the Lantern Parade through the city streets.
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