Mudang (무당)

The sorceress in traditional Korean society functioned as both fortuneteller and exorcist. When a family member got sick, the family would try some herb medicine first. If the patient did not respond to the medicine, he would be assumed to be possessed by evil spirits and the sorceress would be called for. She was supposed to be able to exorcise the patient’s evil spirits with her own spirits. There are some Koreans who still believe in the power of the sorceress.