below are some sketches on some Korean motifs and a tiger that do using illustrator:

SOME VIDEO REFERENCES

SOME VIDEO REFERENCES

I think this video above definitely has the Korean feel to it; the colors used, the illustrations.

Concept

Using Korean traditional motifs to tell a Korean myth story.

Korean Mythical Creatures - Sot'dae

In ancient times, Koreans believed that Hwanin (god) lives in the sky and those things reaching into the sky (mountains and especially trees) could communicate with god. Birds were viewed as messengers from Hwanin. Sot'dae were poles with bird figures perched on top. It symbolized the bird's role as a messenger connecting heaven and earth. Residents placed sot'dae at the village entrance to wish for human beings' survival and abundance on the earth. Sot'dae is where Koreans would pray toward the sky when they were happy or sad. Sot'dae Hanul (Hanul means sky) describes the place where the souls of Korean ancestors dwell.

Korean Mythical Creatures - Goblins

The dokkaebi appeared in many old Korean stories. Although usually frightening, it could also represent a humorous sprite or goblin with grotesque looks. Most dokkaebi were depicted with a horn growing from the top of the head and carried a magical, spiked club. Although these creatures loved mischief and playing mean tricks on bad people, they also rewarded good people with wealth and blessings.

There were endless goblin characters and many versions of the stories. Unlike ghosts, dokkaebi were transformed from natural objects or household goods and appeared in woods or fields.

Korean Mythical Creatures - Dragons

Korean dragons are legendary creatures in Korean mythology and folklore. Dragons in Korean mythology are mostly viewed as benevolent beings related to water and agriculture, often considered bringers of rain and clouds while Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers. Many Korean dragons are said to have resided in rivers, lakes, oceans, or even deep ponds within mountains.
Ancient texts sometimes mention sentient speaking dragons, capable of understanding such complex emotions such as devotion, kindness, and gratitude. One particular Korean legend speaks of the great King Munmu, who on his deathbed wished to become a "Dragon of the East Sea in order to protect Korea".

Difference? Korean? Western?

The shin in shinhwa are a breed apart. They are the gods who live in the heavens and more or less rule over the earth. The other shin (also called chapshin, chap meaning "various" or "miscellaneous") live on the earth and interact quite regularly with humans; these chapshin are a product of Korean folk religions. Ghosts, faeries, guardian spirits, and even what would be considered monsters in the West are all described by the term chapshin. Interestingly, ghosts and monsters in Korea do not hold the same place of horror and dread as they do in the west; there are, in fact, no truly evil chapshin. A ghost may of course take revenge on someone who has done them wrong, but the Western vampires, ghouls, zombies and the like--fearsome monsters evil to the core--have no counterparts in Korea. Chapshin often act as judges or guardians, punishing the evil and rewarding or protecting the good.