The Reflection of Shamanism in South Korean Television Series
Paula-Grațiela Cernamoriț
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study |
|---|---|
| Population | 40 South Korean television dramas and films produced between 2010 and 2023 |
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key findings | The author argues that Korean shamanism is consistently and faithfully represented across a wide range of K-drama genres, with traditional elements such as healing and funerary rituals, talismans, spirit interpretation, and exorcisms appearing regularly regardless of release year. These productions, the author contends, help preserve and popularize shamanic traditions for domestic and international audiences. |
Abstract
This study explores the representation of Korean shamanism in South Korean television series (Kdramas) and examines how these productions contribute to the preservation and promotion of shamanic traditions in the context of globalization. The research is based on the hypothesis that Korean shamanism has survived not only through those who still practice traditional rituals but also through mass media and new technologies, particularly K-dramas and online platforms, which have made these practices accessible to a global audience. To address the research questions, 40 South Korean dramas and films produced between 2010 and 2023 were selected and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The selection was based on the full viewing of each production, during which recurring scenes and themes related to Korean shamanism were identified. The findings reveal that shamanism is consistently and faithfully represented across a wide range of genres-including action, comedy, historical drama, fantasy, and family narratives. Regardless of release year, these series regularly depict traditional elements such as healing and funerary rituals, talismans, spirit interpretation, and exorcisms. As such, Kdramas play a significant role in preserving and popularizing Korean shamanic traditions for both domestic and international audiences.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on shamanism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Plantas con madre": plants that teach and guide in the shamanic initiation process in the East-Central Peruvian Amazon. Curanderos, apprentices, and herbalists in East-Central Peru, including Mestizo,... | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 36 |
| Purging and the body in the therapeutic use of ayahuasca Healers and participants in shamanic tourism contexts of the Peruvian Amazon and... | 2019 | Ethnography with literature review | n = 227 |
| The Globalization of Ayahuasca Shamanism and the Erasure of Indigenous Shamanism Western tourists and indigenous peoples in Iquitos, Peru | 2016 | Ethnography | |
| Shamanism and Rock Art in Far Western North America Historic hunter-gatherer cultures of California and the Great Basin | 1992 | Ethnographic review and analysis | |
| Working with “La Medicina”: Elements of Healing in Contemporary Ayahuasca Rituals Ayahuasqueros and Western participants in shamanic tourism in Iquitos, Peru | 2012 | Ethnography |