I can't explain it...
but I can offer my thoughts:
The Kokori are human-shaped, but with green hair and fairies...
the koroks are tree-shaped with funky masks and no fairies..
but the Forest Haven is filled with glowing lights..
and there is no korok named Saria, Mido, or any of the other names from Oot...
so there must have been some enormous change wrought on the kokiri that enabled them, and the kokiri forest to survive the flood (just think about relative elevations here- how on earth is the Forest Haven now just as tall as Death Mountain?)
so the Deku Tree changed some of the kokiri into koroks by combining the fairy and child- and used the powers of others of his kokiri children to save the forest.. also, the change is necessary- because the kokiri can't leave the forest.
I probly just confused you... I'm tired and its late...

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