Gangnam emerges as hub for fortune-telling, religious companies

By KTimes

Fortune-telling, deeply rooted in Korean tradition, continues to thrive in fashionable Seoul, with rich neighborhoods like Gangnam District’s Nonhyeon-dong rising as main hubs the place religious consultations flourish in areas of excessive foot visitors and affluence.

In response to information extracted from Naver as of Aug. 1, there are presently 15,853 registered fortune-telling companies providing companies reminiscent of shamanic readings, horoscopes and tarot throughout Korea.

Nonhyeon Station stood out as essentially the most densely packed space in Seoul, with 285 fortune-telling retailers positioned inside a 2.45-kilometer radius. This space surpassed different notable scorching spots like Eunpyeong District’s Yeokchon Station, which has 214 retailers, and the Sindang and Dongmyo areas, which collectively home 193 fortune-telling retailers.

Mia Station, with its lengthy historical past of shamanic traditions, got here in fourth with 182 retailers, adopted by the youth-oriented Hongdae space with 148.

Regardless of the rising reputation of on-line fortune-telling companies, particularly amongst youthful generations by way of platforms like YouTube, conventional fortune-telling retailers stay very important in sure neighborhoods, pushed by a mixture of historic, cultural and financial components.

Prosperity of fortune-telling trade

Nonhyeon space’s fortune-telling retailers stand out not solely due to their quantity but in addition due to the wealth of their clientele.

The neighborhood has turn out to be a go-to vacation spot for high-profile purchasers, together with politicians, entertainers and enterprise figures. A lot of them search recommendation on issues starting from careers and wealth to relationships.

This clientele tends to desire discreet, high-end companies, which has led to numerous retailers not displaying the standard crimson or white flags — symbols indicating whether or not the shaman provides divination or rituals.

As a substitute, these retailers function quietly, with many solely accepting purchasers by appointment.

A 60-year-old shaman from Nonhyeon stated, “Within the north of the Han River, shamanic markets are scattered throughout a number of areas, however within the south, Nonhyeon is the one actual focus of fortune-telling retailers. I solely take purchasers by appointment, and if somebody comes with out one, I ship them away.”

When requested about her earnings, she stated, “I make round 150 million received ($113,000) a yr. Once I’m not consulting purchasers, I spend my time in prayer.”

One other shaman within the space boasted about her monetary success, saying, “I see round 100 purchasers each ten days. Throughout increase occasions, my appointments have been booked two months upfront. Now, it’s a couple of month’s wait. All of my purchasers come by way of word-of-mouth.”

She stated that her enterprise operates totally on popularity and famous, “My signboard was even made without spending a dime by one among my loyal purchasers who works in promoting.” When requested how a lot she costs, she confidently quoted 100,000 received ($75) per session. With such a charge, her yearly earnings quantity to a number of hundred million received. “I don’t envy docs or legal professionals,” she added.

Excessive-profile purchasers search discreet consultations

The clientele of Nonhyeon’s fortune-tellers is exclusive in that it consists of a few of Korea’s elite. In response to one shaman, “Our purchasers embrace everybody from high-ranking politicians to well-known entertainers. A lot of them are right here for profession recommendation, however some simply need somebody to speak to.”

She added that many youthful ladies working within the leisure or nightlife industries additionally frequent the realm.

“Life in Gangnam might be very hectic, and folks come right here on the lookout for consolation and steerage,” she stated.

One other fortune-teller within the space stated, “The purchasers we get right here in Gangnam don’t have any points with cash. Additionally they are likely to have favorable fortunes. In contrast to purchasers in different districts, they don’t haggle over the worth. I cost 200,000 received for a pair’s studying, and so they pay with out query.”

Challenges amid rising property costs

Nonetheless, the fortune-telling trade in Nonhyeon is just not with out its challenges. Rising actual property costs in Gangnam have made it tough for a lot of shamans to take care of their companies within the space.

A neighborhood actual property agent stated, “There are two shamans seeking to lease areas right here, however they’ll’t discover something. Property homeowners don’t need fortune-telling companies as a result of they suppose it impacts the constructing’s look.”

This sentiment was echoed by one other agent who stated that some shamans are being pressured out of their rented properties as outdated buildings are torn down and changed with newer developments. “When a constructing is renovated or rebuilt, the shamans are sometimes the primary to be evicted,” she stated.

In some instances, fortune-tellers are keen to pay as much as 20 p.c greater than the usual lease simply to safe an area.

“If the lease is 1.5 million received, they could provide 1.7 million received simply to safe a lease,” one actual property agent stated, highlighting the desperation of some fortune-tellers to stay within the profitable Gangnam space.

Decline of Mia-dong’s shamanic village

Whereas Nonhyeon thrives, different conventional shamanic hubs like Mia-dong are experiencing a downturn. Mia-dong, traditionally recognized for its focus of shamanic homes, has seen a steep decline in enterprise, pushed by redevelopment initiatives and the ageing inhabitants of practitioners.

Baek Hyun-ok, a 75-year-old shaman with 45 years of expertise, stated, “Again within the 2000s, this space was booming, however now, there are barely any purchasers.” She added, “The media typically portrays shamanism as superstition and tales about shamans committing crimes have broken the trade’s popularity. It’s the honest practitioners like me that suffer.”

The adjustments in Mia-dong replicate broader societal shifts. The district symbolized a spot of sorrow the place many poor residents settled after the 1950-1953 Korean Warfare.

Shamanic traditions flourished on this setting as individuals sought religious solace. However as the realm redeveloped, lots of the long-standing shamanic homes disappeared.

In response to the Korean Kyungsin Federation, or Gyeongcheon Shinmyeonghoe in Korean, a gaggle representing shamanic practitioners, the variety of shamans in Mia-dong has dwindled to only a tenth of what it as soon as was.

Religious pull of Eunpyeong

In distinction, Eunpyeong stays a religious stronghold for fortune-tellers, due to its proximity to “sacred” mountains like Bukhan, Bugak and Baekryeon, that are thought-about to boost “religious power.”

A 31-year-old shaman from the realm, who acquired her calling on the age of 23, stated, “Once I was on the lookout for a spot to arrange my apply, I needed someplace with good religious power and near the mountains. Eunpyeong was good. This space has an extended historical past of shamanism, and even the older landlords are open to renting their properties for shamanic practices.”

Eunpyeong additionally advantages from its proximity to conventional markets. One shaman close to Yeonsinnae Station stated, “Shamans spend quite a bit on ritual gadgets like rice muffins, greens and fruit. We purchase these in massive portions, generally 60,000 to 100,000 received price of products at a time, so you might say that we preserve the native markets going.”

Altering trade with new generations

Because the fortune-telling trade evolves, youthful shamans are discovering new methods to adapt to the trendy world. In areas like Hongdae, which millennials and Gen Zers ceaselessly go to, fortune-telling cafes have sprung up, providing tarot and horoscope readings.

A few of these are even run by shamans who’ve acquired religious callings. These cafes decrease the obstacles to entry, with some retailers permitting clients to decide on their most popular studying by way of kiosks.

A 30-year-old shaman who has been training for 2 years stated, “Lots of college students come right here to get their compatibility checked with their companions by way of tarot or horoscopes. I provide a mixture of religious readings and tarot. Even shamans should adapt to the altering occasions.”

Her costs replicate this contemporary method, charging 20,000 received for a easy studying and 50,000 received for an in-depth session, making her companies inexpensive for youthful purchasers.

Regardless of the modernization of some practices, the cultural significance of fortune-telling in Korea stays as sturdy as ever.

Yeom Eun-young, a cultural researcher, stated, “In right this moment’s unsure society, fortune-telling provides psychological consolation and a technique to resolve private considerations. We have to have a look at fortune-telling not simply as a private subject however as a broader social phenomenon.”

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.