A South Korean shaman, who goes by the alias Mu-gyuk, underwent a rigorous initiation ceremony to become a shaman that included balancing on swords to show the evil spirits his strength. (Geoffrey Cain/GlobalPost)

Modern shamans all the rage in S Korea

Pop culture and an economic crisis have helped put shamanism back on the map.

SEOUL, South Korea — When I told my friends I would visit a Korean shaman, or mudang, their responses weren’t exactly reassuring. One Korean university student explained to me that evil spirits would hijack my body, prompting me to slit my wrists and drink my own blood until I became a minion of Satan. “Are you nuts? They’re evil!” another friend...

Recent on South Korea:

• Latest

Animosity against English teachers in Seoul

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - February 3, 2010 07:04 ET

As South Korea climbs the economic ladder, the presence of foreigners is growing — and so are complicated reactions to them.

Special Report

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 28, 2010 17:24 ET

20 correspondents, 20 countries and a world of pain. Meet the ground truth of the global economic crisis.

"Witch hunting" on the web. The latest Korean fad?

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - January 7, 2010 11:37 ET

The most wired country in the world has always been on the forefront of internet trends. Now, they're on the cusp of cyber-violence.

Kim Jong Il, you're under arrest

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - December 15, 2009 08:37 ET

Concerned citizens want the notorious leader of North Korea tried at the ICC. Are they on the right track? Or, are they only dreaming?

Analysis: What's in Kim Jong Il's wallet?

Bradley K. Martin - Worldview - December 6, 2009 12:56 ET

This week's North Korean currency revaluation is aimed at restoring the state economic sector.

Will Korean manhwa replace manga?

Geoffrey Cain - South Korea - November 28, 2009 09:38 ET

As sales in Japanese manga plummet, the "Korean Wave" takes hold, offering popular comics with sophisticated themes.

The ethical dilemma in your holiday stocking

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - November 27, 2009 08:43 ET

Do you know who made your iPhone? And does it matter?

Why white skin is all the rage in Asia

Phillip Martin - China and its neighbors - November 26, 2009 12:03 ET

From pills to lasers to cream, what's fueling the boom in skin-whitening procedures across the continent?

Obama in Beijing: What you will see. And won't see.

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - November 23, 2009 11:16 ET

In China, anything is possible. Nothing is easy.

Special report: Silicon Sweatshops

Jonathan Adams and Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - November 23, 2009 10:51 ET

Despite strict "codes of conduct," labor rights violations are the norm at factories making the world's favorite high-tech gadgets.

Silicon Sweatshops: A promising model

Jonathan Adams and Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - November 18, 2009 06:54 ET

There's no easy way to police supply chains in Asia. But one US high-tech firm and its Taiwan supplier are taking a creative approach that might just work.

What do you think about Silicon Sweatshops?

News Desk - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 15:04 ET

Are high-tech supply chains in Asia good business or exploitation? You decide.

Silicon Sweatshops: Shattered dreams

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 07:24 ET

Migrant workers making gadgets at Taiwan's high-tech parks sign deals that make them modern-day indentured servants.

Silicon Sweatshops: The China connection

Kathleen E. McLaughlin and Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 07:22 ET

For migrant workers, an electronics factory job can be a ticket into China's booming middle class. But for many, it turns into a nightmare of poor working conditions and indifferent bosses.

Silicon Sweatshops: Disposable workforce

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 07:22 ET

Laid-off Taiwanese workers accuse their firm of violating industry codes even when times were good.

Obama in Japan: Reassuring an old friend

Justin McCurry in Tokyo - Japan - November 14, 2009 16:58 ET

America's first "pacific president" extends a hand. But it's not all smiles.

Analysis: Kim Jong Il's cry for help

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - November 12, 2009 06:20 ET

Analysts feel that the Nov. 10 naval clash between the Koreas is a signal from Pyongyang that it's ready to talk.

A World of Trouble: Is the nightmare over?

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 14, 2009 13:35 ET

With signs of economic recovery finally emerging, here's where things stand in 20 countries around the world.

Can Korean scholars save a language?

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - September 22, 2009 09:00 ET

In an effort to preserve their language, the Cia-Cia people of Indonesia try adopting the Korean alphabet.

Global Blogs:

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Bits and Pieces

Gusts of Popular Feeling - South Korea - February 9, 2010 10:03 ET

Roboseyo has a post well worth reading about the portrayal of foreigners on Korean television. If you haven't already, go read it.Mark at the Jeonju Hub sent me a link to this article titled "The ‘Foreign English Teacher’ - A Necessary “Danger” in South Korea." There are...

Gwangnaru Pedestrian Bridge

Discovering Korea - South Korea - February 9, 2010 10:01 ET

We’ve talked about the Han River Renaissance Project on Seoul Scene before, but in case you’ve forgotten, it’s the ambitious plan to realize the full potential of Seoul’s iconic waterway as a way to improve the quality of life for the city’s 10 million citizens. One of...

Ask a Korean! News: Basketball Expats in China

Ask a Korean! - South Korea - February 9, 2010 09:27 ET

This article is very old, but the Korean only came across it recently while following the travails of Stephon Marbury, a disgraced former NBA All-Star point guard who now plays in China. The themes that appear from this article should be very familiar to many of AAK!'s...

Six-Party Talks a possibility to resume?

Grant Montgomery, Family Care Foundation - South Korea - February 9, 2010 01:00 ET

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il pledged again to remove nuclear weapons from the peninsula, and also sent his top nuclear envoy to Beijing in a move that could bode well for stalled...

A Korean-American Missionary's Venture in North Korea

Korea Report - South Korea - February 8, 2010 11:24 ET

News item: Robert Park (photo), a Korean-American missionary is released from North Korea after 43 days of detention following his illegal entry into North Korea via the border with China.When going into North Korea, Park proclaimed that he was willing to become a matyr to...

Vietnamese Beef Noodles (Diệu Hiền Quận)

Lee's Korea Blog - South Korea - February 7, 2010 03:10 ET

Phở, otherwise known as Vietnamese beef noodle soup, is one of the few things I really crave for in Korea. Australia has a healthy Vietnamese community in the larger cities, facilitating convenient and tasty phở access after any long night out. The dish is also popular in...