Ritual items are piled in front of the fortune-telling house in Sangnok District, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 23, where former intelligence commander Noh Sang-won once worked. Yonhap

The recent controversies surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's close inner circle and their alleged connections to shamanistic practices have sparked sharp criticism from Korea's traditional shamans and spiritual practitioners.

Accusations of individuals exploiting shamanism for personal and political gain have not only raised ethical concerns but also deeply offended the shamanic community, which argues that such actions distort the essence of their spiritual traditions and tarnish their collective reputation.

Revelations about figures from Yoon's administration have intensified the controversy, especially Noh Sang-won, a former defense intelligence command leader, who is linked to the 2024 martial law plot. After his 2018 dishonorable discharge for sexual harassment, Noh turned to shamanism, co-founding a fortune-telling business.

Kim Hye-sook, a practitioner of "Hwanghae-do Pyeongsan Sonnoreum Gut," a recognized intangible cultural heritage, expressed outrage. "Shamans have always been independent of politics," she said in an interview. "These individuals have sullied the name of shamanism, making all of us appear complicit."

Kim was reacting to reports that former military intelligence commander Noh was involved in fortune-telling activities and provided spiritual readings for political figures.

This fueled speculation about the presence of so-called "shadow shamans" influencing the Yoon administration.

Shamans distance themselves from accused individuals

Traditional shamans emphasize that figures like Noh and Jeon Seong-bae, also embroiled in allegations, are not true representatives of their community.

Jeon, also known as Geon Jin, is a self-proclaimed Buddhist monk and shaman who participated in Yoon's 2022 presidential campaign and previously advised Covana Contents, the first lady's art company.

"A real shaman prioritizes the well-being of the nation and the people," Kim said, recalling her role in the 49-day ritual after the 2008 Sungnyemun Gate fire.

Kim Yeon-ok, a shaman who has run a shrine in Gyeonggi Province for over a decade, said, "They exploited shamanism to serve their greed and political ambitions, which is unacceptable."

Nearby shamans operating near Noh's alleged workplace in Ansan also voiced their frustration. "That fortune-telling house cared more about attracting customers than practicing genuine spirituality," one practitioner said. "Their actions have cast an unfair shadow on all of us."

The Korean Kyungsin Federation, the nation's largest association of shamans, is also considering issuing a statement to distance itself from Noh and Jeon. Its director, Lee Sung-jae, said, "Shamanism is fundamentally a spiritual practice dedicated to protecting the country. Using it for personal or political gain is sacrilegious."

Kim Hye-sook, a 35-year veteran shaman, speaks with the Hankook Ilbo during an interview in Mapo District, Seoul. On the right is Kim performing a ritual. Korea Times photos by Kang Ji-soo and courtesy of Kim

Damage spreads to fortune-telling and traditional practices

The controversy has also affected fortune tellers and other spiritual practitioners. Noh, who studied geomancy after his 2018 discharge, even held lectures on divination.

However, local fortune tellers have disavowed his activities. "I've never even heard of him," said the owner of a geomancy center in Seocheon. "It's incomprehensible to rely on divination for state affairs."

Kang Pan-seok, vice president of the Korean Geomancy Association, said, "This is the work of amateurs making baseless claims. Their antics harm the reputation of legitimate practitioners."

The fallout has not spared long-standing practitioners. Kim Hye-sook noted that she has received calls asking, "Is your business doing okay?" She described the situation as a significant blow to their work, saying, "For rituals to happen, there needs to be hope in the nation, but this scandal has caused tremendous damage."

The Korean Federation of Shamanism is now grappling with how best to restore public trust and shield their practices from further harm.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.