President's choice of new minister steps down for shamanism

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 10, 2016, 10:11 Updated : November 10, 2016, 10:26


Park Seung-joo is shown in a red circle during a shamanistic ritual on a Seoul plaza in May. [Yonhap Photo]


South Korea's disgraced President Park Geun-hye has refuted wild rumors about her alleged association with shamanism but her choice of a new cabinet member stood down for supporting a shamanistic ritual.

In a news conference late Wednesday, Park Seung-joo, nominated a week ago to head the Ministry of Public Safety and Security, said he would not join the cabinet.

He apologized for causing public concern and criticism over his role in a shamanistic ritual in May at the heart of Seoul, and also over his 2013 book in which he claimed to have experienced his past life many times.

Shamanism has been a crucial element in a massive scandal involving Park's long-time friend, Choi Soon-sil, that fanned suspicions about the president's religious background.

Choi, the daughter of a cult leader who became a mentor to Park, was likened to Grigori Rasputin, a Russian peasant, mystical faith healer, and trusted friend of the family of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. After the assassination of her mother in 1974, Park formed a close bond with Choi.

In a speech on November 4, Park strongly refuted allegations about her possible connection with cultism or shamanism. "There have been rumors that I got into a religious cult or allowed a shaman to conduct a ritual in the Blue House. But I can say clearly that's absolutely not true."

The scandal-stricken president repeated her denial three days later when she met with Christian leaders at her office, only to fuel public suspicion about her spiritual background.

Park's religion was mentioned as shamanism in a newly edited version of her unauthorized biography published by Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia, which is the largest and most popular general reference work on the Internet.

Wikipedia's reference data included a story published by the Seoul-based Korea Joongang Daily on November 7 that quoted Choo Mi-ae, head of the main opposition Democratic Party, as saying the president had her spiritual communication only with Choi.

Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com

 
기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기