Fortune Telling

While not as widely practiced and not as relevant to modern life as it was in the past, fortune telling is still a common practice in Korea – not only among the elderly, but also among young people.

At the beginning of the year especially, but all year long as well, one can find elderly Koreans sitting on the street with an open book (filled with Chinese characters) in front of them. Some of them also use special sticks to help them predict someone’s past, present or future misfortunes and successes. In the past, fortune telling was one of the few career options for the blind, and some still practice this profession today. Having one’s fortune told for the New Year is part of the traditions of that time of year.

Just as in other industrialized nations with a highly educated population, people maintain that they consult fortune tellers more as a form of entertainment than anything else.  That said, during periods of unrest or instability, more and more people consult fortune tellers. In the late 1990’s, during the Asian economic crisis, people used to queue for a reading from a fortune teller with a reputation for accuracy. The cost of a reading was generally not high, usually less than W10,000.

Election season is often a busy time for Korea’s fortune tellers. Not only do candidates visit them in the hopes for a confirmation of their chances of winning, but reputable newspapers also report the predictions of renowned fortune tellers. One of the English dailies reported how a fortune teller by the name of Cho had predicted Lee Myung-bak’s win in Dec 2007 and some of the challenges he subsequently faced.

Mothers will often consult a fortune teller before an important event in their children’s lives – prior to the college entrance exam or a move to study or work abroad, for example.  Marriage is also a reason for visiting a fortune teller. Parents, armed with their child and the prospective spouse’s birth information (date, time, place, etc) will ask if the couple are a compatible match and if the union will be a happy fruitful one. Marriage plans, even today, may be cancelled if the reading is unfavourable.

Adapting to modern times, fortune tellers go by more ‘progressive’ designations, such as destiny philosophers working in philosophy institutes. It is possible to have your fortune told or to philosophise about your destiny in many locations in any Korean city, especially around markets, transportation centers, etc. In Seoul, there are many 'shops' in the Shinchon and Miari districts as well as near Seoul Station, Dongdaemun and Namdaemun markets, etc.  Others have set up Internet sites used by hundreds of thousands of younger Koreans.

K4E Editor: We try to make the information on Korea4Expats.com as complete and accurate as possible, so if you notice any errors or omissions in the content above, please let us know at info@korea4expats.com.

Expats wanting to share in the experience often need the help of a Korean friend who can translate for them. That said, there are a few destiny philosophers/fortune tellers, who can speak English. If you’re looking for one, ask the question on the Korea4Expats.com Forum and someone is sure to provide you with a name and directions/contact details.