From Prehistoric Times to K-Content: Everything About Korean Animism

Exploring the ancient belief that spirits dwell in all things around us, living and breathing beside us.

• Basic concepts and anthropological significance of animism
• Traces of animism in Korean history and mythology
• The charm of K-animism spreading worldwide through modern K-content

What is Animism? Communicating with the World

How to relate by saying ‘You’ to the world

Animism was first defined by 19th-century anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor as “belief in spiritual beings.” Simply put, it is the worldview that even inanimate objects like the sun, moon, rivers, trees, and stones possess souls or spirits that think and feel like us.

Tylor explained that ancient people conceived the idea of souls in attempts to understand phenomena like dreams and death. Today, scholars no longer dismiss animism as mere “primitive superstition.” Instead, it is re-evaluated as a profound ecological worldview that sees the world as a community of many “you"s with souls equal to “me.” Nature was not viewed as objects to exploit but as “friends” to communicate and connect with.

Echoes of souls engraved in rocks: Prehistoric Korean Peninsula

Before writing, our ancestors engraved their beliefs on rocks and pottery. The national treasure Ulsan Bangudae Petroglyphs depicts pregnant whales and harpooned whales, expressing shamanistic prayers for hunting success and prosperity. They prayed to the souls of animals for abundance.

The Korean Peninsula has the largest number of dolmens in the world. These megalithic monuments were not simple graves but primitive observatories and sacred altars worshipping the sun aligned with specific seasonal sunrise directions. The fish bones and wave patterns on Neolithic comb-pattern pottery symbolized the vital power of nature and were also used as ritual vessels expressing beliefs in the afterlife.

Korean Animism in Myth and Daily Life

Dangun Myth: Connecting trees, bears, heaven, and earth

The founding myth of Korea, Dangun Myth, is a treasure trove of Korean animism and totemism origins. The sacred tree Sindansu (神檀樹), from which Hwanung descended from heaven, symbolizes the “World Tree” connecting gods and humans, continuing as the village guardian Dangsan tree faith.

The bear and tiger story is a classic example of Totemism, where specific animals serve as tribal guardians. Also, Hwanung bringing the gods of wind, rain, and clouds (Pungbaek, Usa, Unsa) essential for farming clearly shows animism’s worship of natural phenomena as personified deities.

The small cosmos inside the home: Household deity faith from kitchen to bathroom

Animism extended into the home. Traditional Korean houses were small universes inhabited by household gods (Gasin) protecting each space.

• Seongjushin: Lives in the main beam of the central hall, the highest deity responsible for the whole house and head of the family
• Jowangsin: Governs fire and food in the kitchen, reports family affairs to heaven
• Samsin Halmoni: Helps childbirth and child growth in the master bedroom
• Teojushin: Protects the house grounds, such as the backyard jar stand
• Cheoksin: Lives in the bathroom, known for being easily angered

Women mainly performed rituals for these deities, indicating their strong spiritual authority in maintaining household order.

The Unique Spirit of K: Goblins, Han, and Jeju

Icon of K-fantasy, the Goblin (Dokkaebi)

The unique being Dokkaebi is neither god nor ghost but embodies Korean animism’s essence of object spirits. Its most distinctive trait is that it is born from old objects touched by human hands, like worn-out brooms or straw sandals. I myself get attached to old pens and sometimes imagine they might turn into dokkaebi at night.

They play mischievous pranks but do not harm maliciously; instead, they can create treasures with their magical clubs, showing traits of gods of abundance.

Comparing East Asian yokai: Dokkaebi vs Oni vs Tsukumogami

Korean dokkaebi differ clearly from similar Japanese beings, reflecting how each culture perceives objects and spirits.

Unresolved sorrow: Han and Gut ritual

The Korean sentiment Han (恨) is the deep sorrow of souls who died unjustly. Souls burdened with Han become Won-gwi (vengeful ghosts) wandering the living world. The communal ritual Gut heals this by having shamans listen to the ghosts’ grievances and release their Han, offering comfort to both the dead and the living as a form of social healing.

The island of goddesses, living myths of Jeju

Jeju Island preserves the original form of ancient animism, characterized by powerful female deities. The creation goddess Seolmundae Halmeoni, who made Hallasan with her skirt, and the agricultural goddess Jacheongbi, who brought seeds of five grains to humans, are representative myths. The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut is a ritual praying to the wind god for prosperity and peace, showing the deep bond between nature and humans as a living myth.

The Vitality of K-Animism Continuing into the Modern Era

Animism in contemporary society

Animism remains deeply embedded as a ‘cultural grammar’ in our lives today.

• Opening ceremonies, pouring makgeolli on new cars: Modern rituals praying for business success and machine safety
• Saju, tarot apps: Digital extensions of traditional shamanistic divination
• Metaverse: Interaction with avatars and digital objects resembles the worldview that all things possess spirits.

Animism in K-content captivating the world

Recently, K-content has captivated global audiences by creatively weaving Korean animism and shamanism into stories.

• Films , : Use feng shui, shamanistic faith, and ancestral Han as core narrative forces
• Film : Visualizes Korean afterlife views combining Buddhism and folk beliefs
• Dramas , : Successfully blend shamans and spirits with modern thriller genres

Spiritual beings in K-content are portrayed not simply as ’evil’ but as souls burdened with deep Han, requiring communication and healing. This narrative of healing rather than revenge offers fresh emotional impact and profound resonance to global audiences.

Conclusion

Korean animism, which began with prehistoric rock paintings, lives vividly beside us across time.

• First, animism is a profound worldview communicating with nature beyond primitive faith.
• Second, from Dangun myth to household deity faith, it forms the foundation of Korean life and culture.
• Third, modern K-content proves that the most Korean stories can become the most global stories.

Look around you now. Perhaps the old pen you use daily or the street tree outside your window wants to say something to you. What are your animism experiences in daily life? Feel free to share in the comments!