Photo: Bank in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province burns in a wildfire. Credit: Yonhap.
On March 24, the Office of the President 대통령실 issued an unusual press conference. It claiming that the massive wildfire in southeastern Korea has nothing to do with any shamanistic ritual, supposedly commissioned by Yoon Suk-yeol 윤석열’s wife Kim Geon-hee 김건희. Taking aim at a conspiracy theory from a minor leftist Youtube channel, the presidential office promised “a strong response, including legal measures.”
But going out of its way to attack a fringe conspiracy theory would do little to dispel the persistent association between shamanism and the Yoon administration. Yoon, after all, had no qualms of appearing in a televised debate with the word “king” inked onto his palm during his presidential campaign. (See previous coverage, “Can’t Wait to be King.”) Yoon has been unwavering in his support for bearded mystic Master Cheongong 천공스승, and a key member of Yoon’s coup attempt - former General Roh Sang-won 노상원 - also had a double life as a shaman.
