The Benevolent Beasts of Korean Mythology
On April 28, 2026, the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch will host a presentation that challenges Western perceptions of dragons as fire-breathing monsters hoarding gold in dark caves. American scholar David A. Mason will introduce his latest work, “K-Dragons: DaeHanYong — Korea’s Dragon Traditions and their Yong-wang Monarchs,” during his eighteenth lecture for the society. The event promises to reveal how Korean dragon mythology differs fundamentally from European traditions, associating these mythical creatures with mercy, sympathy, empathy and love rather than destruction and greed.
Mason, who recently retired from his position as professor of cultural tourism at Sejong University, has spent over four decades studying Korea’s spiritual traditions. His new book represents the first comprehensive examination of Korean dragon traditions available in any language, planned for release across two volumes. The April 28 lecture will focus specifically on the Dragon King, known as Yongwang, and its appearances in Korean Buddhist artwork where the creature often appears alongside the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
The Dragon King in Buddhist Artwork
The relationship between the Dragon King and the Bodhisattva of Compassion, known as Gwaneum in Korean, forms a central theme in Mason’s research. In Buddhist iconography found throughout Korea, the Dragon King appears frequently paired with this compassionate figure, sometimes depicted as carrying the deity upon its back. This imagery represents a complex religious synthesis that developed over centuries as Korean Buddhism integrated Shamanic and Daoist folk deities into its visual culture.
Mason plans to explore how this integration occurred and what it reveals about the evolution of Korean religious art. The lecture will examine the complex relationship between these figures, showing how Korean Buddhist iconography developed through the incorporation of Shamanic and Daoist folk deities. Attendees will gain fresh perspective on how these artistic traditions can inspire spiritual reflection when viewing temple artwork.
A striking example illustrates the fragility of this cultural heritage. Mason photographed a temple painting at Haein Temple in Gayasan National Park in 1983 showing the Dragon King upon his throne as a servant boy welcomes the Bodhisattva of Compassion. When he returned in 1986, the painting had disappeared. Temple officials informed him it had been burned during a campaign to eliminate Shamanic influences from Buddhist sites.
David A. Mason: Four Decades of Korean Cultural Scholarship
David Alan Mason, born in Detroit in 1957, first encountered Korea in 1982 while working as an English teacher. The experience sparked a lifelong fascination with the country’s mountain traditions and spiritual practices. He relocated permanently to Korea in 1986 and later earned a Master of Arts degree in Korean Studies from Yonsei University in 1997, specializing in the history of Korean traditional religions.
Throughout his career, Mason has established himself as the foremost foreign expert on Sansin, the mountain spirits that occupy shrines called Sansin-gak within Buddhist temples and villages across the peninsula. His research on the Baekdu-daegan mountain range, the connected web of mountains defining Korean geography, proved so influential that the government appointed him as Honorary Ambassador of the Baekdu-daegan mountain system in 2011. Before his work began in 2005, this crucial geographical and spiritual concept remained virtually unknown outside Korea.
Mason’s academic career included positions at Kangwon National University, Yonsei University Wonju Campus, Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Kyung Hee University before his tenure at Sejong University beginning in 2014. Beyond academia, he played a practical role in promoting Korean culture by assisting in the creation of the Temple Stay program in 2002, which allows international visitors to experience monastic life. He has also contributed to the World Pilgrimage Guide and helped design the Wonhyo Trail pilgrimage project in 2011.
A Publishing Milestone
“K-Dragons” stands as a landmark in Korean cultural studies. Mason states that no comparable book exists in any language, making this the first comprehensive resource covering Korea’s unique dragon traditions and their Yong-wang monarchs. The work will span two volumes, offering detailed analysis of how these benevolent creatures function within Korean religious and cultural contexts.
“No book like this exists in any language,” Mason said.
The book joins a bibliography of ten published works by Mason, including “Spirit of the Mountains: Korea’s San-shin and Traditions of Mountain-Worship,” “Solitary Sage: the Profound Life, Wisdom and Legacy of Go-un Choi Chi-won,” and “An Encyclopedia of Korean Buddhism” co-written with Ven. Hyewon. Copies will be available for purchase during the April 28 lecture, allowing attendees to explore the topic in greater depth following the presentation.
The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch
The upcoming lecture represents Mason’s eighteenth contribution to the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch, an organization that has served as the primary hub for Korean Studies since before 1900. RAS Korea maintains an intentionally accessible approach to academic subjects, offering semi-monthly lectures at Somerset Palace in Gwanghwamun and organizing economical excursions throughout the country and abroad.
The society operates through volunteer efforts, keeping costs low to encourage broad participation. Special interest groups cover topics ranging from Korean cuisine to photography, while the lecture series brings experts like Mason to share specialized knowledge with both expatriate residents and Korean audiences interested in their own cultural heritage. Mason has also contributed to the society’s journal, Transactions, writing on subjects including the sacred aspects of Taebaek-san and Jirisan mountains.
Discovering Gangnam’s Ancient Roots
Prior to Mason’s lecture, RAS Korea offers a complementary cultural experience exploring the historical dimensions of one of Seoul’s most modern districts. On April 25, 2026, Jun Y.G. Shin will lead a walking excursion through Gangnam, revealing heritage sites hidden among the skyscrapers and shopping centers that dominate the area south of the Han River.
While international audiences know Gangnam primarily through the satirical song “Gangnam Style” by rapper PSY, the district contains significant historical treasures. Participants will visit the Seolleung Royal Tombs, a serene green space preserving centuries-old burial mounds from the Joseon Dynasty, along with Bongeun Temple, one of Seoul’s largest and most active Buddhist temples. The tour also includes Coex, a landmark of contemporary Seoul, providing contrast between ancient and modern Korea.
“Since the runaway success of a satirical song by a rotund Korean rapper named PSY, the phrase ‘Gangnam Style’ has earned worldwide fame,” Shin wrote in an online invitation. “There is, however, another side to Gangnam. Amid the hustle and bustle of the sleekest, most modern part of Seoul, lie quiet corners, lush greenery and traces of Korea’s past.”
The excursion requires registration by April 23 due to limited capacity. Participants should prepare for approximately four hours of walking and wear appropriate footwear. The group will assemble at exit 10 of Seolleung Station on Line 2 and the Suin-Bundang Line at 1 p.m.
Attending the Events
The K-Dragons lecture will take place on April 28, 2026, at 7:20 p.m. in the basement of the Seoul Public Activities Center, located near exit 8 of Samgakji Station on Seoul Metro lines 4 and 6. Entry costs 10,000 won for general admission, 5,000 won for students of all ages with valid identification, and remains free for RAS Korea members. Visitors can find additional information and registration details at raskb.com.
The Gangnam walking excursion on April 25 costs 30,000 won for non-members and 25,000 won for RAS Korea members. Given the extensive walking involved, organizers point out the necessity of proper shoes for navigating both modern pavement and historical site pathways.
Key Points
- David A. Mason will present his eighteenth lecture for RAS Korea on April 28, 2026, introducing his new book “K-Dragons: DaeHanYong”
- The work represents the first comprehensive study of Korean dragon traditions published in any language, planned as a two-volume set
- Korean dragons differ from European counterparts, symbolizing mercy, empathy and compassion rather than destruction
- The lecture will examine the Dragon King (Yongwang) and its depiction alongside the Bodhisattva of Compassion in Buddhist artwork
- Mason has authored ten books on Korean culture and previously helped establish the Temple Stay program in 2002
- A walking tour of historical Gangnam led by Jun Y.G. Shin will take place on April 25, visiting Seolleung Royal Tombs and Bongeun Temple
- Registration for the Gangnam excursion closes on April 23; the lecture requires no advance registration but charges admission fees
