The sea monster from folklore has emerged in art, food and fashion as a symbol of hope and pop culture mascot. Its first depiction was in 1846, telling people to draw it and "be free from disease."
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Anthony Kuhn is NPR's correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea, reporting on the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and the great diversity of Asia's countries and cultures. Before moving to Seoul in 2018, he traveled to the region to cover major stories including the North Korean nuclear crisis and the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear disaster.
Chie Kobayashi