What animal is the symbol of long life in Korea?

The deer is the animal that is the symbol of long life in Korea. Dating back to ancient times, the people in Korea have considered the deer a holy animal due to its beautiful appearance and mild temper. It is unclear is to why the deer was originally made a symbol for long life. There are no particular stories about ordinary deer. But, it was believed that mythical white stag had eternal life and held a prominent role in the mythology of the culture.

Today, deer are known to travel in herds and whenever they move to a different location, they raise their heads to search for any stragglers that do not follow. When an image of a deer has been painted with pine trees, maples, rocks, or herbs, this is still used as a symbol of long life in several cultures, including Korea.