By 2 min readApril 17, 2026 – 12:54PMAFP
Publication Date: 2026-04-17 02:54:00
The sound of tinkling bells wafts through an alley in central Seoul, a sure sign that a shaman is nearby – although in this case the mystic is a robot powered by artificial intelligence.
Many South Koreans still place great value on shamanic traditions that purport to predict a person’s future based on the day and time of their birth.
Practitioners, known as “mudang,” wear long, colorful robes and perform dances and chants to communicate with the gods — sometimes even walking on sharp blades to demonstrate their spiritual connection.
However, at Vinaida, a cultural goods store in the capital, these are computer-generated avatars on screens.
Visitor Kim Da-ae, 36, called it a “unique experience.”
A visit to a real shaman can feel “scary and stressful”, she told AFP.
“But I just walked by and read this AI sign… So I went in with a light heart.”
Portraits of virtual shamans resembling characters from the popular animation “KPop Demon Hunters” greet passersby in Vinaida,…
