A herd of deer grazed in a rugged forest in north central Kangwŏn Province in the middle of the peninsula. Within the herd was a single white stag. This was a rare experience in the fifteenth century as it is now. While striking in appearance, appreciated for their beauty, and awed for their near-mystical appearance, this colour aberration put at risk animals like this one. Most likely these deer experienced a form of piebaldism or leucism. Piebaldism, or the absence of pigmentation, produces a patchy white fur, while leucism, a more extreme form of piebaldism produces a total lack of pigmentation, turning the animal pure white. Both conditions leave the eyes and noses black. Another possibility was albinism, a much rarer condition, which results in a lack of pigmentation throughout the entire body including the skin and fur as well as the eyes, ears and nose. Piebald and albino deer have shorter lifespans. They experience genetic deformities, such as shortened appendages, that could place them at a disadvantage, and they sometimes suffer rejection from the herd or potential mates. Lacking camouflage, they are unable to blend into the forest and stand out, becoming easier prey. To underscore this, a single arrow shot through the air from above, struck the deer, downing it, as the others in the herd darted away, escaping into the forest.

It was in 1442 when a white stag was slain on a royal military Kangmu hunt. King Sejong had travelled to P’yŏnggang, Kangwŏn Province to participate in this Kangmu hunt. He had spotted the white stag (paengnok; 白鹿) in a herd of deer. His royal relatives (chongch’in; 宗親) and the soldiers had seen the deer too. Everyone wanted to be the one to capture the magical beast.