In-o

Lore

Ino, the Mermaids (인어) — Water-dwelling beings with yellowish, prominent eyes, pronounced ears, a yellow beard, and black hair; bodies are pale red with white patches. They can lure the unwary underwater.

In-o (인어) is the name of a water-dwelling creature from Korean folklore. These beings are fully humanoid, with several distinctive traits, and look nothing like European mermaids. Descriptions say they have a high bridge to the nose and yellow-tinged eyes, pronounced outer ears, a yellow beard, and black hair—often compared to a horse’s tail. Their skin is pale red with patches as white as pearl, the result of spending most of their lives in the water. Unlike many aquatic creatures, they have no scales. One unique feature: their tears are said to be white. As they age, a black pattern appears on their backs.

The myths of the In-o are deeply rooted in coastal culture and tied to real geographic locations, giving the stories special weight. Legends place them near specific seaside regions and islands such as Heuksando, Jangbongdo, Geomundo, and Dochodo. In-o are said to live in both fresh and salt water. One tale tells of an In-o healing its wounds by jumping into a village well. No reliable story explains how long an In-o can remain on land; daytime sightings are absent. Most accounts suggest they avoid sunlight because of their sensitive skin and venture ashore only at night, returning to the water after roughly three hours.