“To become a dragon, an imugi must prove worthy. Some do so by living for a thousand years. On this day, the transformation will begin, and they will become a true dragon. For others, this metamorphosis is not a matter of patience. If they can lay claim to a yeouiju, they will be bestowed with its gifts. These imugi can become dragons far sooner than their brethren.”

—A History of Dragons: The Truth in Mythology by Ailuv Drah Gonz

Scientific name: Draco mutatis.
Origin: Korea.
Diet: Omnivorous. May include fish, squid, seaweed and kelp.
Life span: Unknown. Estimated to be several thousands of years.
Size: Up to one metre wide and ten metres long.
Colour: Varies in colour. Often blue or orange.
Notable features: Four-fingered claws. Horned upon becoming a dragon.

The metamorphosis dragon is one of the longest-living dragon species. Surviving for thousands of years, they live in caves or water, often along the rocky coastlines of North and South Korea. They are large serpents with four legs. Each leg ends in a four-fingered claw that allows them to grasp objects, harvest plants and quickly and painlessly hunt their prey.

These dragons begin life as imugi—smaller creatures that are not yet considered full dragons. Imugi have no horns, a visible indication that they are part of this earlier stage. The transformation from imugi to dragon occurs over several weeks, during which the horns grow to their full and final size. These long, swept-back horns mark them as a true dragon.

To become a dragon, an imugi must survive for a thousand years, or catch a yeouiju from the sky. A yeouiju is a small glowing orb, fitting perfectly in the claws of a metamorphosis dragon. They are often mistaken for falling stars as they tumble to earth. If an imugi is lucky enough to catch a yeouiju, they will never relinquish it; it is a symbol of their newfound status as a dragon.

Little is known about yeouiju, including where they come from and why, and how they accelerate the transformation process. Deulaegon Chingu, now one of the most esteemed dragonologists in the world, has a unique insight into this phenomenon. This is largely due to an encounter he had as a child, one he says inspired him to spend his life studying and protecting dragons.

“My parents always told me not to go swimming near the cove. The waters are faster than they look, they warned. The tides are so strong that they could pull you out to sea. But I was a child, and the more they warned me against it, the more curious I became. So one night, I crept down to the shore. The water was still and glassy, moonlight dancing across its surface. It felt like an invitation.

I waded in, and before I knew it, the water had a hold of me, sweeping me into its depths. I struggled for air, barely able to keep my head above the surface. I’m going to die, I thought.

And then something wrapped around my chest, and the water streamed away. I coughed water from my lungs, and found myself sprawled on the rocky shore that I had left behind. I wiped water and tears from my eyes, unsure what had happened. And there, in the shallows, I saw her. A great imugi watching me with intelligent eyes, blue scales rippling with every movement. I lifted my head, and she nodded her own, assured that I was alive.

And then, a flash sparked across the sky, and a golden star fell to the earth. The imugi looked to the heavens and leapt from the water, catching the star in her claws in much the same way as she had hauled me from the seas.

I cannot presume to know for sure, but could it be that the imugi’s good deed was rewarded? For saving my life, perhaps she was now seen as worthy to become a dragon.”

Researchers have grappled with many challenges in their attempts to prove Chingu’s theory. It has long been deemed unethical to keep dragons in captivity, so imugi must be observed in the wild where it is impossible to control every variable. Scientists have faced further difficulties in trying to quantify ‘worthiness’ and its relationship with a metamorphosis dragon’s transformation. However, Chingu’s theory certainly has merit. For what could be more worthy of reward than saving a child’s life?