Korean Shamanism As Folk Psychology

Anne Hilty, PhD, is a scholar-practitioner of health psychology from New York, now living on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. She is researching the seemingly incongruous revival of shamanism in one of the world's most technologically advanced countries. Though Korean shamanism has suffered centuries of ridicule and persecution, it is now acknowledged to be an important repository of Korean culture and indigenous psychology. In a recent article, Hilty emphasizes the importance of Korea's shamanic tradition in defining as well as treating the collective Korean psyche. According to Hilty, "Shamanism, in modern as well as historical eras, provides many of the same functions for Jeju society as does psychological counseling. Its form is flexible and adaptable, integrating modern elements as needed in order to maintain its relevance." Read Jeju Shamans, Healing Minds and Hearts.