Is Eom Ji-yoon's Fortune Telling TV Shock or Tradition?
On the Korean talk show Shinppal Talk Show: Mysterious Stories, comedian Eom Ji-yoon caused a stir when she received a dramatic fortune-telling segment. A shaman on the show claimed she had a “haunted chart” — symbolizing a life with a spiritual doorway that ghosts enter and leave freely. While it sounds like a plot from a horror movie, this is actually a term within a traditional Korean fortune-reading system called saju.
According to the program, Eom’s saju included something called Jayoo Gwimun Gwansal, which some shamans interpret as a mystical sign that suggests deep emotional sensitivity, creative energy, and a potential calling to interact with the spiritual world. The shaman advised her to stop pretending all was fine, and instead, to be more open with personal struggles. The moment struck a chord with viewers, sparking a heated conversation online about the line between culture, superstition, and mental health.
The Warm Side of Ancient Wisdom
Why People Still Turn to Saju and Shamans
Despite debates, traditions like saju and Korean shamanism, called musok, have long served as ways for people to navigate life’s uncertainties. Like a spiritual form of therapy, these readings can help people understand themselves better, reflect on relationships, and even cope with hardships.
Increasingly, people in Korea — especially younger generations — are revisiting fortune readings not as absolute truth but as a tool for introspection. Many consult shamans or saju readers not necessarily to predict their fate, but to get clarity when dealing with stress, grief, or life decisions. In this context, Eom Ji-yoon being asked to open up emotionally can be interpreted as an invitation toward healing more than prophecy.
From a cultural standpoint, the show stands out because it combines Korea’s rich spiritual history with modern entertainment formats. Some praise the show for helping normalize conversations around emotions, mental health, and Korea’s spiritual heritage in a fresh, engaging way.
The Acknowledged Problem: Fact vs. Faith
Still, not everyone is cheering. Critics warn that saju and shamanistic readings are founded not on scientific methods, but on centuries-old belief systems. The danger isn't just in believing something unverifiable — it's in putting too much trust in it. When people start relying solely on a shaman’s readings to make life decisions, it could weaken personal responsibility, create anxiety, or delay professional help for mental health issues.
Particularly concerning is the trend of broadcasting these readings. While they make for compelling TV, they may oversimplify complex lives into a few mystic-sounding statements. Some say this approach turns sincere cultural practices into spectacle — or worse, commercialized superstition.
There's also worry that the drama and mystery surrounding these readings feed into unfounded mysticism, confusing viewers, especially younger ones, about what's helpful folklore versus magical thinking.
Where Does Entertainment Meet Sincerity?
Whether you're for or against it, Eom Ji-yoon’s televised fortune-telling experience opened up a larger question: Can mystical customs be used responsibly in entertainment? The show presents a cultural reinterpretation — not unlike tarot cards or astrology in the U.S. — but how far is too far when it comes to curiosity?
Many Americans are familiar with palm readers and horoscopes, and, similarly, these can act as comforting rituals — as long as we don’t mistake them for medical or scientific guidance. Like anything that blends personal belief with mass media, tone matters. Done with care, it honors tradition. Done carelessly, it becomes misleading.
Ultimately, shows that feature spiritual traditions should provide context — that they offer one lens through which to interpret life, not a script to live by. Sensationalizing them or leaning too heavily into the “mystical” without room for critical thinking risks trivializing both culture and the people taking part in it.
