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Goblin (TV series)

Goblin, officially titled Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, is a South Korean television series that premiered on tvN in 2016.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Goblin, officially titled Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, is a South Korean television series that premiered on tvN in 2016. It follows an immortal goblin seeking a human bride to end his curse, alongside a grim reaper and a young woman tied to his fate. The series is also known in Chinese as 孤单又灿烂的神—鬼怪.

Premise

The plot follows Kim Shin, an immortal being cursed to live forever until he finds a human bride who can end his existence. His path becomes intertwined with Ji Eun-tak and a grim reaper, creating a fantasy romance narrative.

Production

The series was produced for tvN as part of the channel's 10th anniversary special programming. It was created by writer Kim Eun-sook and director Lee Eung-bok, both of whom were already well known in Korean television.

Broadcast and title

The show originally aired in South Korea beginning on 2 December 2016. Its Korean title uses the word 'dokkaebi,' which is commonly rendered in English as 'goblin,' and it is also distributed under the English title Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.

Key facts

  • Goblin premiered on tvN on 2 December 2016.
  • The story centres on an immortal goblin seeking a human bride to end his curse.
  • The drama was written by Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok.
  • It is a South Korean fantasy romance series.
  • The series is also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
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Canadian context

The series has been available to international viewers through streaming platforms, including Netflix, and is part of the broader popularity of Korean television among Canadian audiences.[2]

Frequently asked questions

What is Goblin?
Goblin is a South Korean fantasy romance television series that premiered on tvN in 2016.
What is the story about?
It follows an immortal goblin who seeks a human bride to end his curse, and a young woman linked to his fate.
What is its Korean title?
Its Korean title is 쓸쓸하고 찬란하신-도깨비.
Who created the series?
It was written by Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok.
When did it first air?
It premiered on 2 December 2016 in South Korea.

References

  1. Wikipedia (zh-cn) — https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/%E5%AD%A4%E5%96%AE%E5%8F%88%E7%87%A6%E7%88%9B%E7%9A%84%E7%A5%9E%E2%80%94%E9%AC%BC%E6%80%AA
    Supports: Title, original Korean title, English title, premiere date, premise, and network.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/tw/title/81012510
    Supports: Synopsis describing the immortal guardian, the bride quest, and supporting characters.
  3. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPGFAoWa4rI
    Supports: Summary of the plot and main characters in promotional commentary.
  4. Poh Kim — https://pohkim.net/shop/goblin-the-lonely-and-great-god-%E5%AD%A4%E5%8D%95%E5%8F%88%E7%81%BF%E7%83%82%E7%9A%84%E7%A5%9E-%E9%AC%BC%E6%80%AA-korean-drama-dvd-limited-edition/
    Supports: English title, year, and writer/director credits.
  5. Wikipedia (zh-tw) — https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E5%AD%A4%E5%96%AE%E5%8F%88%E7%87%A6%E7%88%9B%E7%9A%84%E7%A5%9E%E2%80%94%E9%AC%BC%E6%80%AA
    Supports: tvN premiere, 10th anniversary special, writer/director credits, and plot premise.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5994364/
    Supports: English title, series format, and premiere date.