Tag: shaman

shaman

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Supreme Court upholds 5-year sentence for shaman in Kim Keon Hee bribery case

The top court declined to overturn an appeals court ruling against Jeon Seong-bae over a series of gifts given to the former first lady in return for political favors.

2026.7.9

An AI-generated image of a Korean shaman performing a ritual at a shrine [CHATGPT]

Shaman who killed niece in ritual has life sentence reduced on appeal

A shaman who bound and killed her niece by exposing her to burning charcoal as part of a ritual was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday by an appellate court that determined the crime constituted fatal bodily injury rather than murder.

2026.4.21

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A screen shows an AI robot named Ami at a cafe in Ikseon-dong in Jongno District, central Seoul [KIM CHANG-YONG]

Fire, water and big data: AI moves into fortune-telling as 'saju' wave continues

At a cafe in the trendy neighborhood of Ikseon-dong in central Seoul, visitors are getting their fortunes read based on their "saju," or fortune-telling based on birth charts, but not by a seasoned practitioner, but by an AI shaman.

2026.3.3

A still from Disney+'s fortunetelling survival show ″Battle of Fates″ [THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Bells, fans and the five colors: Decoding Korean shamanism in Disney+'s ‘Battle of Fates’

On the Disney+ fortunetelling survival show “Battle of Fates,” the most eye-catching participants are undoubtedly the shamans, ranging from Korean birth chart readers to tarot masters, physiognomists and even foot readers.

2026.3.2

Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geon Jin Beopsa, arrives at the special counsel’s office in central Seoul on Aug. 18, 2025. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Shaman linked to ex-first lady sentenced to 6 years in prison for taking bribes

A shaman known for his close ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday for accepting bribes in exchange for favors for the Unification Church.

2026.2.24

The Financial Supervisory Service headquarters in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, is seen in this file photo. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Financial watchdog warns against scams involving shaman impersonators

A new type of illegal investment scam, which lures investors using shamanistic practices such as fortune telling, is spreading, Korea's financial regulator warned on Wednesday.

2026.2.11

A mudang, or Korean shaman, dances on knives as part of a spiritual ritual in Daegu, North Gyeongsang, in this file photo unrelated to the story. [YONHAP]

'Psychological control' of shaman who killed niece in charcoal ritual revealed

The court sentenced an older shaman — who had built a decades-long following through fear and superstition and killed her niece in a brutal charcoal ritual last year — to life imprisonment.

2025.10.8

Shaman gets life in prison for burning niece alive during exorcism

A shaman in her 70s has been sentenced to life in prison for killing her niece during an exorcism, the Incheon District Court said Thursday.

2025.9.25

Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee enters the special probe team's office for questioning as a suspect in an alleged stock-rigging case in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Aug. 6 [YONHAP]

Special counsel to indict shaman linked to ex-first lady next week

A special counsel will indict shaman Jeon Seong-bae for suspected bribery ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee next week.

2025.9.4

Charcoal burns in this file photo unrelated to the story. [NEWS1]

Prosecutors seek life sentence for shaman charged with niece's murder

Prosecutors on Friday sought life imprisonment for a shaman who killed her niece with hot charcoal during a ritual to expel what she claimed were evil spirits.

2025.8.29