Metaverses, shamanism and Christianity

Courtesy of Robby Mccullough

By David A. Tizzard

The contradictions in South Korea run deep. It's one of the world's most technologically advanced societies: hyper connected, Bluetooth for days, metaverses proclaimed everywhere, and yet it still has loads of people who are hooked up to Internet Explorer and using HWP files. And while North Korea continues to flaunt its weapons and disregard for the international community by lobbing explosives into the East Sea this month, the presidential race here has been filled with rumors of shamans, spirits, and the evil eye.

Korean shamanism is a traditional belief system: a set of practices that provide answers to the natural world and the order of the things by ascribing events to a multitude of gods inhabiting mountains, people, emotions, time and the heavens. It was heavily connected to the agricultural life of pre-modern Korea and thus predates imported foreign belief systems such as Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity. The shamanist approach is therefore probably the most Korean of them all.

It is for that reason that the attacks against political figures for using shamanic practices or good luck tokens is rather strange. Koo Se-woong has already provided a great overview of all these stories recently in his piece "Sorcery at the Heart of Korean Politics" for Korea Expose. It's not the first time we've been subject to such accusations of wizardry, either. During the impeachment of ex-president Park Geun-hye, the internet was awash with rumors of shamanism, cult practices, and other unrepeatable suggestions taking place inside the Blue House. But why does shamanism still make headlines today and why do the accusations threaten to cancel any who face them?

Just like when women's chastity or sexual behavior is used as a weapon of political attack in Korean society, accusations of Shamanism carry a similar weight. There is often no exact criticism or argument made: people just shout the word "shaman" and then everyone joins in. "Witch," they cry. "There's something going on here that shouldn't be." But what exactly?

For example, when the media and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's supporters online attack the leading opposition candidate and his wife for being involved in shamanistic practices, what exactly are they suggesting? Are they saying that shamanism is real and the effects of this are dangerous? Are they suggesting that religious or spiritual beliefs have no role in politics? Or perhaps their argument is that shamanism, the traditional Korean belief system, is not fit for modern Korean life and should not guide people's actions because it's a superstitious silly old belief system? That last one wouldn't be very patriotic though, I don't think.

The reason why this should be questioned more specifically is that many other politicians, the current Korean president, and other leaders that have come before him, have believed that a man walked on water, healed the sick through touch alone, and then ascended to heaven after being dead for three days. Others ascribe fortune to the Buddha in various guises. Some pray at the altar of science and acknowledge the big bang theory as the start of creation and life on earth. Everybody has a different view, even if that means an absence of a view altogether. And I make these observations as someone with a keen interest in the role religion plays in society and human behavior. Nevertheless, it does strike me as incredibly strange that one man having a Chinese character written on his hand for good luck is deemed evidence of him being unfit to rule yet were his opponent to wear a cross around his neck this would be, if not agreeable to all, perfectly acceptable to polite society.

Are some religious or spiritual beliefs inherently better than others? Should religious tolerance be granted to some but not others? Article 9 of the Human Rights Act says, "Everyone has the?right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching practice and observance." Surely with all the human rights lawyers the country possesses, one of them could come out and say something along the lines of, "While we disagree vehemently with our opponent's political beliefs, we do not find it appropriate to attack him and his family on religious grounds."

Korea in 2022 is a society driven by technology but still well-versed in traditions and superstitions in day-to-day life. You'll see crosses, Buddhist imagery, buildings without fourth floors, and so much more as you navigate Seoul. And yet, here we are: Shamans and metaverses in the race for the Blue House. I'm not sure which one is scarier, to be honest.

Dr. David A. Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) has a Ph.D. in Korean Studies. He is a social/cultural commentator and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He is also the host of the Korea Deconstructed podcast, which can be found online. The views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.