New Year's Fortune-Telling Shops Crowded... "30% Increase Compared to Usual"
Asking About Success as YouTubers and Influencers Instead of Employment
Fortune Interpretations Change... Children's Luck Now Linked to Pets
When the new year arrives, many people wonder if the year will pass without any troubles. This is why fortune-telling shops specializing in Saju and Tarot are bustling at the end and beginning of the year. On the 7th, two days before the Lunar New Year holiday, we visited Jongno 3-ga to Ikseon-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where many Saju and Tarot signboards are lined up.
Do-yeon (fortune-telling name, in his 60s), a fortune teller who has been reading Saju for over 20 years in areas like Gangnam and Jongno in Seoul, said, "At the beginning of the year, the number of customers increases by about 30% compared to usual," adding, "These days, people worry a lot about how to make money well." He said that young people often ask about job prospects, career changes, and love luck, while middle-aged and older people inquire about their children's luck, real estate luck, and health luck. He lamented, "Meeting many people, the common thought is 'Life is really tough these days.' I hope the economy improves soon."
On the 8th, at a fortune-telling cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, when asking fortune teller Doyeon about the reporter's New Year's fortune, she hinted that a benefactor will appear this year. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@
Employment, career changes, love, real estate... Everyone who visits has different concerns. Park Min-ju (26), a job seeker, checks her New Year's fortune every year out of curiosity. Park said, "Hearing good things motivates me and gives me strength to live day by day," adding, "I don't blindly believe in Saju, so if I hear something bad, I just think 'I see, I'll be careful' and move on." She continued, "I have many things I want to do, so I asked which career path suits me best and what my love luck is like."
A couple in their 50s waiting their turn at a Saju and Tarot shop at the entrance of Ikseon-dong said they came to ask about their children's luck. The wife, Ms. Kim, said, "Our son is a high school student, so we have many worries," adding, "For parents, children's grades, university, and career paths are important, so we want to get advice." Two women ahead of them consulted the fortune teller about career changes and love luck.
The way Saju is interpreted has changed with the times. When children's luck appears in a Saju reading, it is sometimes interpreted as adopting a pet. Do-yeon explained, "Many people ask if they can replace having a baby with a dog or cat because they don't want to have children. If their Saju shows a son, they raise a male pet; if it shows a daughter, they raise a female pet. These days, Saju is read like that too."
During periods when love luck is present, instead of meeting a new lover, one might become deeply infatuated with a celebrity on TV. This is called 'ipdeok' (starting to enthusiastically like a certain field or person). There are also many people asking whether they can succeed as influencers on YouTube, blogs, or Instagram instead of getting a traditional job.
On the 8th, a fortune-telling and tarot shop in Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@
In the past, most people came in person to ask about their fortune, but nowadays, non-face-to-face services via phone or the internet are also popular. According to Playboard, a YouTube data analysis site, there are 1,790 fortune-related channels active on YouTube. Because you can easily check your fortune by entering your name, date of birth, and birth time, Saju and Tarot-related applications are also popular. On Naver's 'Expert' non-face-to-face professional consultation service, as of this date, 3,957 people are active in the 'Fortune, Tarot, Naming' category.
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