Who was Kim Keum-hwa?
Kim Keum-hwa (1931-2019) was a master shaman born in Jangyon, South Hwanghae Province, in what is now North Korea — a region once known for its rich shamanic traditions. Affected by "sinbyeong" (spirit sickness) as a child, she was taken to a local shaman where she soon began her apprenticeship as a "gangsinmu" (a "spirit-conjuring" shaman). Kim performed her first complete ritual at the age of…
Kim Keum-hwa, a master shaman from North Korea, lived from 1931 to 2019. Born in Jangyon, South Hwanghae Province, she was steeped in the region's rich shamanic traditions. Sinbyeong, or spirit sickness, afflicted her as a child and led her to a local shaman for guidance. Kim began her apprenticeship as a gangsinmu, a spirit-conjuring shaman, at a young age.
She conducted her first complete ritual at 15 and gained local renown by 20. Forced to relocate south during the Korean War, Kim continued her shaman practice despite the chaos. As a high-level mansin, Kim had 10,000 spirits at her command, with General Cho being her guardian spirit. Her rituals involved invoking various spirits and deities, including the Dragon King, the spirit of the big dipper, and Sansin, the mountain spirit.
In her role, Kim considered herself "a vessel for the gods." In the early 1980s, she began participating in international festivals, conferences, and events, spreading Korea's shamanic practices to 25 countries worldwide.
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- Who was Kim Keum-hwa? koreatimes.co.kr
