From TV fame to spiritual paths: Korean stars embrace life as shamans

A growing number of former celebrities are turning to life as shamans, drawing significant public interest over their unexpected career transitions. On Aug. 21, comedian Kim Ju-yeon appeared on JTBC’s variety show “Don’t be the First One!” and revealed that she has been working as a shaman. Kim debuted in 2006 as part of MBC’s 15th open recruitment for comedians and rose to fame through the sketch “Ju-yeon-ah” on MBC’s “It’s A Gag.” That same year, she won the Best New Actress Award in the comedy/sitcom category at the MBC Entertainment Awards. After “It’s A Gag” was canceled in 2009, Kim shifted her focus to other programs such as “Laugh and Laugh,” “Fall in Comedy,” and “Comedy Road.” However, her TV appearances gradually decreased, and she eventually disappeared from the entertainment scene. Making a rare appearance on the JTBC show, Kim told hosts Choi Yang-rak and Paeng Hyun-sook, “I’ve been a shaman for a while now,” surprising many viewers. Kim shared, “I suffered from a spiritual illness. I had heavy bleeding for two years, and I suWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times