What do Koreans think of a pig in general? Popular sayings include "Casting pearls before swine." Koreans would make fun of an overweight person by calling him or her "Ttungdoeji (fat pig)" or "Kkotdoeji (flower pig)" if cuteness should be added. When eating pork, most Koreans think it must be eaten together with pickled shrimp sauce. A popular practice is placing a boiled pig's head on the ritual altar and praying for the success of a newly opened business. Koreans are presumed to have begun to breed pigs about 2,000 years ago. For generations, the Pig has been regarded as a sacred animal with mythical power through various myths and believed to symbolize sacrifice at ceremonial rites as well as an auspicious animal or the God of Fortune (財神) that can bring fortune and happiness. On the other hand, the Pig is portrayed as greedy, dirty, lazy, and slow, making the concept contradictory and ambivalent.

The purpose of pigs as livestock was to provide man with meat and fat, but they were often used as a sacred offering to various local gods. The pig was one of the first animals to be used as an offering at various ceremonies. This history-rich tradition dates back to the Goguryeo dynasty, and it has been transmitted until today. In the Goguryeo dynasty, the pig was regarded as a ceremonial pig (郊豕) and consequently specially bred and managed; in the Goryeo dynasty, legend has it that Jak Je-geon, who was the grandfather of Wang Geon, received a pig as a gift from the Dragon King who ruled the West Sea of Korea. In the Joseon dynasty, a wild boar was used as an offering for "Nabil Rite (臘享, the rite on Hunting Day, which falls in the 12th lunar month)." Even today, a pig is "sacrificed" for community religions, large-scale exorcism, and family ancestral rites. Because the Pig has long been regarded as a sacred offering to gods, the Pig itself is believed to carry mythical power.

While chasing a pig, King Yuri of the Goguryeo dynasty ended up in Guknaewinaam (國內尉那巖). He saw that the site, deep with mountains and rivers, was ideal for a capital and moved the capital there. In the case of the childless King Sansang of the Goguryeo dynasty, he chased a ceremonial pig that led to a young maiden, who gave him a son. In the Buyeo kingdom, one of the government official ranks was called "Jeoga (猪加)," meaning "pig." Likewise, in Korean ancient kingdoms, it was the Pig that helped a king locate a capital and find an heir who will succeed the throne. The animal was believed to have supernatural power and was sacrificed at ceremonies in order to deliver man's wishes to the gods. The Pig has always been viewed as an auspicious animal. Such auspicious sign was evident in various relics and literatures from ancient kingdoms throughout Korean history. In folk customs, the Pig as the source of fortune or happiness or the guardian god of the family was emphasized even more. A dream about a pig is interpreted as an excellent dream. Merchants would begin business on the First Pig Day (上亥日) of a new year. Families hung a painting of the Pig as if it were a talisman. On the other hand, the Pig is also thought of as greedy, dirty, lazy, and unintelligent. In some folktales, the Pig is depicted as a greedy monster of the underworld. Popular Korean proverbs describe the nature of the pig as greedy, dirty, foolish, lazy, and the like as well as the nasty screeching voice or grunting noise of the animal. Such negative notions can also be found in Western religions. In Judaism and Islam, the pig is viewed as an unclean animal, or the ultimate symbol of loathing and revulsion. Christians see it as a vile, rude creature, or the symbol of evil seduction, whereas the Old Testament dietary laws are still in effect today.