"King" Character on Yoon Seokyoul's Palm... The Unbreakable History of Korean Politicians and Shamanism, Geomancy [Han Seunggon's Political Notebook]

"Obsession with Five-Colored Ribbons... How Is He Different from Choi Soonsil?"
Bipartisan Criticism over Yoon Seokyoul's "King" Character
Lee Jaemyung Says, "Should Have Written It Somewhere Less Visible"
Shamanism and Geomancy among Past Presidents Including Kim Youngsam
Kim Daejung's Election Victory After Relocating Ancestral Grave to "Site Where an Immortal Descends"

On the 1st, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyoul appeared on an MBN debate, with the Chinese character for "king" clearly visible on his palm. Photo by MBN YouTube channel capture

[Asia Economy, reporter Han Seunggon] On October 2, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyoul, a presidential primary candidate for the People Power Party, was seen with the Chinese character for "king" (王) written on his palm during a televised debate, sparking controversy over whether a shaman is involved in Yoon's campaign. Yoon's camp maintains that "supporters wrote it on his palm to cheer him on," insisting there is no problem, but criticism has continued not only from the ruling party but also from within the opposition.

This unexpected controversy over shamanistic beliefs in politics ahead of the presidential election has drawn attention to past cases where politicians, before major elections, consulted shamans or considered geomancy when choosing campaign offices, focusing on factors beyond practical politics.

"Under military regimes, shamans were labeled as 'frauds' and driven to rural areas, but these days, the atmosphere has changed, and Koreans accept shamanism as an important part of Korean culture." - The New York Times, July 2007

This foreign media report from 14 years ago noted that Korean politicians showed deep interest in shamanism. The New York Times further stated, "During election seasons like this year, politicians-whether Christian or Buddhist-constantly visit shamans and fortune-tellers," adding, "Famous shamans are so fully booked that it's hard to meet them, and politicians ask shamans if relocating their ancestors' graves to auspicious sites would help them win elections."

The report also cited statistics from a religious group, noting, "There are over 300 shaman shrines in Seoul and nearby cities alone, and the total number of shamans in Korea reaches about 300,000."

As described in the report, politicians at the time not only engaged in practical politics but also devoted considerable effort to invisible factors such as shamanism and geomancy.

The dictionary definition of superstition is "blindly believing in something without scientific basis" or "having strong magical elements and being irrational." However, among politicians, it is a presence that cannot be ignored. It is known that past presidents also consulted shamans, and some even went so far as to use iron stakes to block the energy of rival politicians, actively employing shamanistic practices.

President Kim Youngsam waves his hand to the attendees before leaving the venue after the presidential inauguration ceremony on February 24, 1993. Photo by Yonhap News

Former President Kim Youngsam is said to have left his photo at the old party headquarters in Gwanhun-dong, Jongno, when he moved the party office to Yeouido in 1990. It is reported that this was based on a shaman's suggestion that he needed to inherit the energy of the place.

In 1999, seven iron stakes were discovered in the ancestral grave of Lee Hoechang, former leader of the Grand National Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province.

So-called "driving iron stakes" is interpreted in geomancy and folklore as an act that brings harm to descendants when iron stakes are driven into ancestral graves. It is believed that, just as blood flows through human veins, "earth energy" (jihyeol) flows through the land, and driving iron stakes into these points cuts off the positive energy meant for descendants.

The theory of geomancy, which interprets the topography, land, and water flows and connects them to human fortune and misfortune, is also something politicians cannot ignore.

Former President Kim Daejung attracted attention when he won the 1997 presidential election after relocating his father's grave. Previously, after failing in the 7th (1971), 13th (1987), and 14th (1992) presidential elections, Kim moved his parents' graves in 1995 before his fourth attempt.

He reinterred his father's grave from Hauido, Shinan County, South Jeolla Province, and his mother's grave from the Catholic cemetery in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, together at Myobong-ri Mountain in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The site for the joint grave was chosen by the late Son Seokwoo, a renowned geomancer.

In a media interview at the time, Son described the site as a "heavenly descent type (Cheonseonhaghanghyeong) auspicious site where an immortal descends from the sky." After Kim's election victory, a geomancy craze swept through the political world for a while.

Former President Roh Taewoo ran for president in 1987 at the Democratic Justice Party headquarters in Gwanhun-dong. This location was purchased in 1981 when the new military regime founded the Democratic Justice Party, and Chun Doohwan mobilized many geomancers to select the site. The party headquarters was called the "chicken comb site," symbolizing power and official fortune, and was considered the best auspicious site. From this location, Roh defeated the so-called "Three Kims" (Kim Youngsam, Kim Daejung, Kim Jongpil).

President Chun Doohwan congratulating candidate Roh Taewoo, who was nominated as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Justice Party, at a celebration held at the Hilton Hotel in June 1987. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Of course, it is impossible to know what influence the geomancy of the "Democratic Justice Party headquarters in Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu" had on Roh's election. However, from a political perspective, during the 1987 presidential election, the opposition failed to unite the "two Kims" (Kim Youngsam and Kim Daejung), and thus could not prevent the continuation of the military regime from Park Chunghee to Chun Doohwan to Roh Taewoo.

In hindsight, there was talk in political circles that the "chicken comb site" may have had an effect. There was certainly a sentiment that politicians needed to pay attention not only to practical politics but also to shamanism and geomancy.

Perhaps for this reason, the controversy surrounding the "king" (王) character on Yoon's palm has escalated from a mere incident to a heated debate between the ruling and opposition parties. It is a scene that vividly illustrates how deeply shamanism and similar beliefs are embedded in Korean political history.

Yoon's campaign explained the controversy by saying, "Passionate supporters wrote it on his palm to cheer him on whenever he goes out." However, criticism has continued from both rival presidential candidates within the People Power Party and the ruling party.

Hong Joonpyo, a fellow party member, wrote on his Facebook, "There is a shamanistic belief that if you go somewhere you don't want to or feel your words won't be persuasive, writing the 'king' character on your left palm will help you overcome it. Is this presidential election turning into a shamanistic contest?" He continued, "There were reports that you took a shaman with you to meet Chairman Kim Chongin. After lowering the dignity of politics with daily gaffes, will you wear a talisman at the next debate? It's regrettable," he criticized.

Yoo Seungmin, former lawmaker, also criticized Yoon, saying, "How is candidate Yoon any different from someone like Choi Soonsil, who used to obsess over the five-colored ribbons?" He added, "Yoon should clarify whose advice led him to write 'king' on his palm." He went on, "What were you thinking, repeatedly showing such behavior on a nationally televised debate? At a time when a change in administration is desperately needed, the public must know whose advice you are following to do such absurd things," he reiterated.

The Democratic Party also continued its criticism. Song Younggil, party leader, said at a Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam regional primary held at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center (BPEX) on the previous day (October 3), "It made me think we might be going back to the Choi Soonsil era," and added, "He is someone who thinks of the president, who should be the number one servant of the people, as a king."

Lee Jaemyung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who won first place in the regional primary that day, told reporters, "Seeing the 'king' character suddenly made me think of Choi Soonsil and laugh," adding, "I hope we can just laugh it off. He must have been frustrated, but he should have written it somewhere less visible." Former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae also commented, "When I asked if you could cover the sky with your palm, it seems candidate Yoon came out with the 'king' character as a talisman to cover it. It's truly ridiculous."