Why Many Koreans Choose Shamans Over Therapy

The shaman in today's video is Wolhwa, a Korean shaman based in Seoul, South Korea. 🇰🇷🌙
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Why do so many Koreans seek guidance from shamans instead of therapists?
Surveys commonly cited in Korean educational materials report that around 72% of Koreans have visited a fortune teller or similar spiritual practitioner at least once in their lives, while many people experiencing emotional distress never seek professional mental health care.
In this documentary, I explore that question by spending time with a Korean shaman and comparing the experience with what psychology and research tell us about therapy, rituals, spirituality, and emotional healing.
Rather than asking whether one approach is "better," this video explores why many Koreans feel more comfortable opening up to a shaman than a therapist and what cultural, psychological, and historical factors may contribute to that choice.
This video is intended for educational purposes and explores Korean culture, spirituality, and mental health. It is not intended as medical advice or a recommendation to replace professional mental health treatment.
Sources & Further Reading
• Korean Shamanism: A Case Study in Modern Animismhttps://www.koreasociety.org/images/pdf/KoreanStudies/Curriculum_Materials/LessonsbyTopic/History/Korean_Shamanism_A_Case_Study_in_Modern_Day_Animism.pdf
• Spirituality and Mental Health: A Systematic Reviewhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8462234/
• Shamans and Mental Health: A State-of-the-Art Reviewhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11441552/
• Rituals Alleviate Grieving for Loved Ones, Lovers, and Lotterieshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22547553/
• Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Reviewhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3150158/
• Reuters – South Korea's young shamans revive ancient tradition with social mediahttps://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-young-shamans-revive-ancient-tradition-with-social-media-2024-06-08/




🌟 Hey, I’m Megan Moon! After more than a decade living in South Korea, I create honest, thought-provoking videos about human behavior, relationships, and the cultural patterns that shape how we live and connect.

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