Head Over Heels: The ultimate ghost guide (episodes 3–4)

Head Over Heels intensifies its web of emotions and exorcisms while opening the door to some of the most layered and eerie ghosts so far in the drama. Episodes 3 and 4 showcase spirits rooted in Korean folklore and shaped by modern anxieties.

Each entity showcased in the drama possesses a unique presence, infused with significance and unease. Here is your ultimate guide to every ghost haunting the corridors and rituals of these chapters.

Suic*de ghost: grief’s sharpest echo

The most dangerous presence in episode 3 rises from raw sorrow. The suic*de ghost clings to Gyeon-woo in his moment of deep mourning, pulling him into an emotional undertow.

In Korean mythology, spirits born from han, a dense accumulation of resentment and unresolved suffering, often transform into restless beings that draw others toward despair. This ghost functions as both a mirror and a merciless captor, shaping Gyeon-woo’s grief into a living threat. Its hold transforms his personal loss into an invasive darkness, turning vulnerability into a passageway for spiritual corruption.

Baby ghost: the unsoothable

In Head Over Heels, the baby ghost appears as a fragile yet deeply unsettling presence. It clings to a classmate, introduced as one of the “three types of ghosts that cannot be pacified.”

This entity echoes the dalgyal gwishin, or egg ghost, from Korean folklore. Faceless and wandering, these spirits represent children who passed without proper rites or acknowledgment, symbolizing an incomplete journey and emotional abandonment.

In Head Over Heels, this apparition represents the anguish of incomplete narratives and overlooked souls, acting as a haunting symbol for social and familial wounds concealed beneath the surface of daily existence. Its presence leaves a chilling aftertaste, reminding us that not all grief can be alleviated through ceremony or compassion.

Deadly curse spirit: ritual’s darkest offspring

In Head Over Heels, the deadly curse spirit appears as an entity surpassing typical hauntings, materialized amidst a powerful ceremony within a cursed house. It discloses a force such that remains unexorcised and unappeased. Instead of relying on one mythological character, this spirit reflects the concept of corrupted gwishin, as entities empowered through offerings and distorted rituals.

Thus, the deadly curse spirit becomes a physical embodiment of weaponized resentment, an unyielding entity shaped by human hands and human cruelty. Its resistance to purification amplifies the horror, leaving both characters and us to confront the consequences of unchecked spiritual ambition.

Dog ghost: fiction or hidden fable?

The dog ghost in Head Over Heels appears as a rare touch of dark humor among the heavier spiritual encounters. It follows the school bully like an unexpected shadow, visible only to Seong-ah and briefly mentioned in passing. Unlike the other spirits, this ghost doesn’t trace directly back to Korean folklore. Instead, it feels like a playful invention, slipping into the narrative as a light but eerie companion.

In Head Over Heels, this ghost functions as a quiet commentary on loyalty, loneliness, and unseen burdens. Even in its absurdity, the dog ghost hints at the emotional baggage each character carries, suggesting that some ghosts are more symbolic than malicious. Its quiet presence reminds us that sometimes the most haunting figures are the ones that simply stay close, unnoticed by everyone else.

Funeral residues: the invisible crowd in Head Over Heels

The atmosphere surrounding Gyeon-woo’s grandmother’s funeral feels almost like an unseen spirit in itself. Rather than manifesting as a single ghost, the episode builds a heavy, lingering spiritual tension that fills the air. This residue reflects the Korean belief that gwishin often remain near spaces marked by loss and grief, especially when emotions run deep and rituals carry unfinished feelings.

The funeral energy shapes every movement and silence, making each gesture feel weighty and every word hang longer than expected. It reminds us that spiritual presence doesn’t always require a face or a form. Sometimes, grief itself becomes the ghost, wrapping around the living and shaping their path forward with an invisible but undeniable force.

Mythology, modernized

Episodes 3 and 4 of Head Over Heels reveal a careful and bold approach to ghost storytelling. Instead of leaning on quick scares, each spirit becomes a doorway into collective and personal wounds, tying modern life to deeply rooted Korean traditions. By blending folklore with emotional realism, Head Over Heels crafts spirits that feel both ancient and painfully contemporary.

These episodes confirm that the series is not just playing with ghost tropes for shock value. The series uses its supernatural elements to explore grief, resentment, and the echoes of unspoken histories. As the story moves forward, these ghosts promise to evolve alongside the characters, continuing to shape a narrative where every haunting carries a heartbeat.

You might also like to read: Head Over Heels: The ultimate ghost guide (episodes 1–2)