[WEEKENDER] Korean shamanism spreads far beyond its homeland

Korean shamanism has gained new global visibility through media, streaming content and the rise of AI-driven online shamanic services. The story centers on Andrea Kalff, the first European to become a Korean shaman, whose path began after meeting Kim Keum-hwa in Austria and later undergoing Naerim Gut in Korea. Kalff says she now works to connect Korean ritual practice with psychology, psychiatry, anthropology and medicine. Experts quoted in the story describe her case as evidence of the tradition’s globalization and universal reach.

Andrea Kalff, from Prien am Chiemsee, Germany, became the first European to become a Korean shaman after meeting Kim Keum-hwa in Austria.

Kalff said she underwent 11 days of ritual preparation, testing, prayer and initiation in Korea in December 2006.

Nineteen days after the ceremony, a doctor told her the tumor had grown and she needed surgery, which was successful.

Yang Jong-sung, president of the Museum of Shamanism in Seoul, said Kalff becoming a shaman means shamanism is a world religion.

Liora Sarfati said Kalff’s case attests to the globalization of Korean shamanism and its cosmopolitan potential.

Published Sep 4, 2026 6:10 am KST

Updated Sep 4, 2026 5:26 pm KST

From cancer diagnosis to 'Naerim Gut,' how Andrea Kalff's shaman journey began

Andrea Kalff, a German practitioner of Korean shamanism, holds ritual items in this 2021 photo. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

As Korea has taken its place among the world leaders in technology, many facets of its traditional culture also have found their way to a global audience. Through a series of appearances in media and popular streaming content, Korean shamanism has achieved a a new level of global awareness in recent years.

For some, the idea of Korean shamanism being a global entity began 20 years ago with the arrival of Andrea Kalff, a woman from Prien am Chiemsee, Germany, who became the very first European to become a Korean shaman.

Kalff was raised in a Catholic family in Bavaria, with little knowledge or interest in any kind of shamanism, let alone the Korean version. “Since childhood, I had experienced unusual dreams, intuitive perceptions, illnesses that physicians could not explain and psychological crises that correspond to what Korean tradition understands as 'sinbyeong',” she explained, referencing the "spirit sickness" that is thought to affect people marked to become shamans.

Initiation into world of Korean shamanism

At the age of 32, while in declining health, she was invited by a friend to attend an international shamanic event in Mondsee, Austria. She had no idea this decision would initiate a shift in worldview, setting her on a path toward building an entirely new life.

Kalff attended the opening ceremony where she saw introductions by the attending shamans, including Kim Keum-hwa, a famed shaman and designated holder of Korea's Important Intangible Cultural Properties related to shamanic rituals.

After the opening ceremony concluded, a man approached Kalff asking for her name and phone number, which alarmed her.

Understanding the awkwardness of the situation, the man told her, “We know what’s wrong with you,” and said that Kim would like to see her for a private conversation. He assured her that an interpreter would call her in the morning, and she agreed.

The meeting with Kim lasted for three hours. “We were basically asked nothing and we didn’t get a chance to tell anything,” Kalff said.

Kim told Kalff that she had vivid dreams about her prior to departing for Austria.

“She described my life and family in remarkable detail without asking me any questions,” Kalff said.

Kim also told Kalff that she was seriously ill with sinbyeong, and needed to be initiated as a shaman to be healed.

“Mapping out my path, she explained that not doing it would lead to my death,” Kalff said.

Although Kim wanted to conduct the initiation in a matter of days, Kalff explained that she could not commit so quickly due to family issues and other concerns. Kim told her, “I’ll give you a prayer to take with you … I know you’ll come to me.”

Andrea Kalff, left, attends a shaman event in 2008 in Schlosshotel Mondsee in Austria, with her teacher Kim Keum-hwa, second from left. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

Four weeks after her return to Germany, Kalff was shocked to receive a cancer diagnosis. “For three days, I laid in bed and cried,” she revealed. “I needed time to get away from everything, time to meditate.”

After driving alone to Andalusia, Spain, she spent 10 days meditating and sleeping in her car before deciding to go to Korea for “Naerim Gut,” a shaman initiation ritual. According to Kalff, reflecting on her childhood and health, “Only after meeting Kim Keum-hwa did these experiences begin to make sense within the framework of Korean shamanism.”

Who was Kim Keum-hwa?

Describing her arrival in Korea with her husband in December 2006, she said, “We arrived at the airport and as soon as we did, the cameras were there, too … suddenly I was the focus of the media, which I hadn’t expected at all.”

Goethe-Institut Korea provided an interpreter to aid in communication as she underwent 11 days of ritual preparation, testing, prayer and initiation.

Grandmaster Kim Keum-hwa, left, leads Andrea Kalff through a "Naerim Gut" initiation ritual in 2006. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

“First, I was taken to the temple where the spirits and gods feel at home … We were introduced in prayer and shown what the sequence should be. The next few days, I was taken to the mountain and into nature, then to the sea, then to another special mountain and to the city. It was physically and emotionally demanding, but also transformative.”

After the Naerim Gut’s conclusion, Kalff was told by Kim, “Like the prophesies of the gods in the ritual, Andrea, go out and start working immediately. You will help many people. It is important to connect this with conventional medicine.”

“With this, I was dismissed," Kalff noted. “My apprenticeship formally began in 2006 and has continued throughout the past 20 years, because in Korean shamanism, learning never truly ends, like in life.”

Nineteen days after the ceremony, Kim — now considered Kalff's spirit mother — told her she needed to see a doctor, who informed her that the tumor had grown and she needed to undergo surgery. As the anesthesia began to take effect, she recalled understanding the need for the surgery. It was a success and the tumor was removed.

After the surgery and the initiation, she completely changed her life.

In 2007, the story of her journey appeared in the German media.

After her initiation, Kalff said she “lived primarily in Germany and Hawaii while traveling regularly to Korea for ceremonies, instruction and further training.”

“This required learning how to practice authentically within Korean tradition while living and working in Europe and the U.S. Also, Grandmaster Kim Keum-hwa always visited me in Germany and Hawaii,” she recalled.

Kim Keum-hwa, right, meets with Andrea Kalff, second from left, in Munich in September 2015, during Kim's final visit to Europe. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

“This required balancing two very different cultural worlds. My ritual roots remained in Korea, while my practical work, research and clinical collaborations developed mainly in Europe. Rather than belonging to one country, I learned to live between three cultures,” she said.

Universality of Korean shamanism

As the first European initiated into the world of Korean shamanism, her situation was unique.

“I have come to understand Korean shamanism not simply as a ‘religious’ tradition, but as a highly sophisticated system of ritual practice, embodied knowledge and community healing,” she explained. “My work today focuses on building dialogue between traditional Korean ritual practice and modern psychology, psychiatry, anthropology and medicine.”

She added, “Rather than attempting to change the tradition, I aim to translate its concepts into forms that can be discussed respectfully within contemporary academic and clinical settings.”

Addressing her unique role as a European ordained in and practicing Korean shamanism, Kalff stated, “It is both an honor and a responsibility. On the positive side, I can introduce Korean shamanism to audiences that might never otherwise encounter it. The challenge is that I always have to represent the tradition respectfully while avoiding stereotypes or cultural misunderstandings. I try to speak carefully and from personal experience rather than presenting myself as speaking for every Korean practitioner.”

Yang Jong-sung, president of the Museum of Shamanism in Seoul, explained the significance of Kalff’s role in today’s shamanic world. “Andrea becoming a shaman means that shamanism is a world religion. Shamanism is communication with heaven, the moon, stars, natural things … it’s universal and related. We can find that shamanism is not only a Korean religion, but a universal religion,” he said.

German shaman Andrea Kalff, left, talks with Yang Jong-sung, president of the Museum of Shamanism, at the museum in Seoul in June. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

“By universal shamanism, it’s referring to the experience of possessed shamans in a variety of cultures. Each may have its own language, shamanic ritual traditions, practices and symbols. However, it is the dynamic of summoning a god or spirit and the spiritual power awakened that makes a shaman. In this way, shamanism is a universal phenomenon.”

He added, “It’s the power that’s important.”

Liora Sarfati, chair of the Department of East Asian Studies at Tel Aviv University and co-chair of the Korean Religions Unit at the American Academy of Religion, explained, “Andrea’s case attests to the globalization of Korean shamanism and to the cosmopolitan potential of Korea’s spiritual traditions. As Andrea and other Korean shamans demonstrate, the spirits’ ideas and messages can be understood beyond the limits of conventional linguistics.”

From left, Yang Jong-sung, Liora Sarfati, Andrea Kalff and Sogang University Professor Emeritus Kim Seong-nae pose together during an event at Sogang University in western Seoul in June. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

Sarfati added, “Andrea works mostly in America and Europe. Most of her clients are more interested in her spiritual and healing abilities than in the Korean tradition. In this manner, she demonstrates how transcultural flows can benefit people across the globe, and how spiritual practices move beyond national borders.”

Global spread of K-shamanism

The global popularity of Korean pop culture has brought Korean culture, including shamanism, to a broader audience both in Korea and around the world. Through Korea’s popular culture and even artificial intelligence (AI)-driven online shamanic services, people are encountering the tradition from new points of view.

When asked about the changes, Kalff stated, “I think it has increased visibility tremendously. Many people first encounter Korean shamanism through films, television or streaming platforms. This can create curiosity, which is positive. At the same time, entertainment should not replace an understanding of the living spiritual and cultural tradition and responsibility and training.”

Andrea Kalff delivers a talk on her initiation into Korean shamanism during an event at Sogang University in western Seoul in June. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

The Korean wave has drawn public interest both in the context of popular culture and in Korea’s traditional heritage itself.

“Some people remain interested only in the aesthetic or dramatic aspects,.” Kalff said. “Others begin with popular culture but eventually develop a sincere interest in Korean history, ritual and religion. The important question is whether curiosity leads to deeper learning and responsibility for the destiny as a ‘mudang',” she added, using the Korean word for shaman.

A developing facet of modern Korean shamanism is the presence of AI-driven fortune-telling and shamanic services. When asked about their place in today’s ritual milieu, Kalff offered, “Technology is simply a tool. It can help people access information or communicate more easily. However, a genuine ritual is based on human presence, relationship, responsibility and lived experience. AI cannot replace the spiritual, emotional and communal dimensions of a traditional 'gut.' But I’ve also learned over the years the client doesn’t need to be present, which means the gut can be held while the client doesn’t attend.”

German shaman Andrea Kalff tends to a client in Eggstatt, Germany, March 2013. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff

Kalff continued, “Technology may change how people communicate, but the ritual itself remains the heart of Korean shamanism. As long as teachers continue transmitting the tradition responsibly, gut will remain its foundation.”

Sarfati added, “I hope that Korean shamanism maintains its positive effect on the lives of many, in Korea and abroad. I also hope that Koreans will maintain the face-to-face encounters with shamans and will not all move to online communication. I view direct communication between shamans and clients as a meaningful encounter in urban lives that tend to be often alienated and instrumental.”

Reflecting on her own practice, Kalff expressed hope that her “work contributes to respectful dialogue between cultures.”

“I do not see myself as changing Korean shamanism. Rather, I hope to help others appreciate its depth while exploring how traditional ritual knowledge can contribute to contemporary discussions in psychology, psychiatry, trauma studies, and intercultural understanding.”

Visit andrea-kalff.com for more information.

Korean shamanism terms

韩国萨满教通过媒体、流媒体内容以及人工智能驱动的在线萨满服务的兴起，获得了新的全球关注。故事的主角是安德里亚·卡尔夫，她是第一位成为韩国萨满的欧洲人。她的萨满之路始于在奥地利结识金锦华，之后在韩国接受了内林仪式。卡尔夫表示，她现在致力于将韩国的仪式实践与心理学、精神病学、人类学和医学联系起来。报道中引用的专家认为，她的案例证明了该传统的全球化和普世影响力。

来自德国基姆湖畔普里恩的安德烈亚·卡尔夫在奥地利遇到金锦华后，成为第一个成为韩国萨满的欧洲人。

卡尔夫表示，她于 2006 年 12 月在韩国进行了 11 天的仪式准备、测试、祈祷和入会仪式。

仪式结束后19天，医生告诉她肿瘤已经增大，需要手术，手术很成功。

首尔萨满教博物馆馆长杨钟成表示，卡尔夫成为一名萨满意味着萨满教是一种世界宗教。

Liora Sarfati 表示，Kalff 的案例证明了韩国萨满教的全球化及其世界主义潜力。

发布于2026年9月4日 上午6:10（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月4日下午5:26（韩国标准时间）

从癌症诊断到“纳瑞姆·古特”，安德里亚·卡尔夫的萨满之旅是如何开始的

这张摄于2021年的照片中，德国韩国萨满教修行者安德烈娅·卡尔夫手持仪式用品。照片由安德烈娅·卡尔夫提供。

随着韩国跻身世界科技强国之列，其传统文化的诸多方面也逐渐走向世界。近年来，韩国萨满教通过媒体和热门流媒体内容的频频亮相，在全球范围内获得了前所未有的关注。

对一些人来说，韩国萨满教成为全球性实体的想法始于 20 年前，当时来自德国基姆湖畔普里恩的安德里亚·卡尔夫 (Andrea Kalff) 来到这里，成为第一个成为韩国萨满的欧洲人。

卡尔夫在巴伐利亚的一个天主教家庭长大，对任何形式的萨满教都知之甚少，也毫无兴趣，更不用说韩国的萨满教了。“从小我就经历过一些不寻常的梦境、直觉感知、医生无法解释的疾病，以及一些心理危机，这些都与韩国传统中所说的‘神病’相符，”她解释道，这里指的是被认为会影响那些注定要成为萨满的人的“神病”。

进入韩国萨满教世界

32岁那年，她身体每况愈下，一位朋友邀请她去奥地利蒙德塞参加一个国际萨满教活动。她当时并不知道，这个决定会彻底改变她的世界观，让她走上一条全新的人生道路。

卡尔夫出席了开幕式，并聆听了出席的萨满们的介绍，其中包括著名萨满金锦华，她是韩国与萨满仪式相关的重要非物质文化遗产的指定持有人。

开幕式结束后，一名男子走近卡尔夫，询问她的姓名和电话号码，这让她感到不安。

那人意识到情况的尴尬，便对她说：“我们知道你出了什么问题。”并说金想和她单独谈谈。他向她保证，第二天早上会安排翻译给她打电话，她同意了。

与金正恩的会面持续了三个小时。“我们基本上什么都没被问到，也没有机会说任何话，”卡尔夫说。

金告诉卡尔夫，在前往奥地利之前，她做了关于她的生动的梦。

卡尔夫说：“她没有问我任何问题，就非常详细地描述了我的生活和家庭。”

金还告诉卡尔夫，她得了严重的邪病，需要接受巫医的入门仪式才能痊愈。

卡尔夫说：“她为我规划了道路，并解释说，如果不这样做，就会有死亡的后果。”

虽然金想在几天之内完成入会仪式，但卡尔夫解释说，由于家庭问题和其他一些顾虑，她无法这么快做出决定。金告诉她：“我会给你一篇祷文带走……我知道你会来找我的。”

2008年，安德里亚·卡尔夫（左）与她的老师金锦华（左二）在奥地利蒙德塞城堡酒店参加一场萨满教活动。图片由安德里亚·卡尔夫提供。

返回德国四周后，卡尔夫震惊地得知自己被诊断出癌症。“我躺在床上哭了三天，”她透露说。“我需要时间远离一切，需要时间冥想。”

独自驾车前往西班牙安达卢西亚后，她在车里冥想和睡觉了十天，之后决定前往韩国参加“内林入会仪式”（Naerim Gut），即萨满教的入会仪式。卡尔夫回忆起自己的童年和健康状况时说：“只有在遇到金锦华之后，这些经历才开始在韩国萨满教的框架下得到解释。”

金锦华是谁？

她描述了自己和丈夫于 2006 年 12 月抵达韩国的情景：“我们到达机场后，摄像机也立刻出现了……我突然成了媒体的焦点，这完全出乎我的意料。”

在为期 11 天的仪式准备、测试、祈祷和入会仪式期间，歌德学院韩国分院提供了一名翻译人员协助沟通。

2006年，金锦华宗师（左）带领安德里亚·卡尔夫进行“内林·古特”入会仪式。图片由安德里亚·卡尔夫提供。

“首先，我被带到一座神庙，那里是神灵栖息的地方……我们先进行了祈祷，并被告知了祈祷的顺序。接下来的几天，我先是被带到山上，亲近自然，然后是海边，接着是另一座特殊的山，最后是城市。这趟旅程在身心上都极具挑战性，但也让我受益匪浅。”

在纳瑞姆·古特仪式结束后，金告诉卡尔夫：“就像仪式中神明的预言一样，安德烈，立刻出去开始工作。你会帮助很多人。重要的是要将这与现代医学结合起来。”

“就这样，我被解雇了，”卡尔夫说道。“我的学徒生涯正式始于2006年，并持续了20年之久，因为在韩国萨满教中，学习永无止境，就像人生一样。”

仪式十九天后，金——如今被视为卡尔夫的精神母亲——告诉她需要去看医生。医生告知她肿瘤已经增大，需要进行手术。麻醉药效开始生效时，她回忆起自己明白了手术的必要性。手术很成功，肿瘤被切除。

手术和戒瘾之后，她的人生彻底改变了。

2007年，她的经历出现在德国媒体上。

卡尔夫说，在接受入会仪式后，她“主要居住在德国和夏威夷，同时定期前往韩国参加仪式、接受指导和进一步训练”。

“这意味着我需要在欧洲和美国生活和工作的同时，学习如何在韩国传统中正统地进行练习。此外，金锦华大师也经常来德国和夏威夷看望我，”她回忆道。

2015年9月，金锦花（右）在慕尼黑与安德里亚·卡尔夫（左二）会面，这是金锦花最后一次访问欧洲。照片由安德里亚·卡尔夫提供。

“这需要我在两种截然不同的文化世界之间找到平衡。我的宗教仪式根基仍然在韩国，而我的实践工作、研究和临床合作主要在欧洲开展。与其说我属于一个国家，不如说我学会了在三种文化之间生活，”她说道。

韩国萨满教的普遍性

作为第一个接触韩国萨满教的欧洲人，她的情况很特殊。

她解释说：“我逐渐认识到，韩国萨满教不仅仅是一种‘宗教’传统，更是一个高度复杂的仪式实践、具身知识和社群疗愈体系。我目前的工作重点是构建韩国传统仪式实践与现代心理学、精神病学、人类学和医学之间的对话。”

她补充道：“我并不打算改变传统，而是希望将其概念转化为可以在当代学术和临床环境中进行尊重讨论的形式。”

谈及她作为一名在欧洲接受过韩国萨满教仪式并从事相关实践的修行者的独特身份，卡尔夫表示：“这既是一种荣幸，也是一份责任。积极的一面是，我可以将韩国萨满教介绍给那些可能从未接触过它的人们。挑战在于，我必须始终以尊重的态度来呈现这一传统，同时避免刻板印象或文化误解。我尽量谨慎地从个人经验出发进行阐述，而不是以代表所有韩国修行者的身份发言。”

首尔萨满教博物馆馆长杨钟成解释了卡尔夫在当今萨满教世界中的重要意义。“安德烈亚成为一名萨满意味着萨满教是一种世界性宗教。萨满教是与天、月、星、自然万物沟通……它是普世的，彼此关联。我们可以发现，萨满教不仅是韩国的宗教，也是一种世界性的宗教。”他说道。

六月，德国萨满教女祭司安德烈娅·卡尔夫（左）在首尔萨满教博物馆与馆长杨钟成交谈。图片由安德烈娅·卡尔夫提供。

“所谓普世萨满教，指的是不同文化中萨满被附身的经历。每种文化可能都有其独特的语言、萨满仪式传统、实践和符号。然而，召唤神灵或精灵的动态过程以及由此唤醒的精神力量，共同造就了萨满。从这个意义上讲，萨满教是一种普世现象。”

他补充说：“重要的是权力。”

特拉维夫大学东亚研究系主任、美国宗教学院韩国宗教研究组联合主席利奥拉·萨尔法蒂解释说：“安德烈亚的案例证明了韩国萨满教的全球化以及韩国精神传统的世界主义潜力。正如安德烈亚和其他韩国萨满所展示的那样，神灵的思想和信息可以超越传统语言学的局限而被理解。”

左起：杨钟成、莉奥拉·萨尔法蒂、安德里亚·卡尔夫和西江大学名誉教授金成来于六月在首尔西部西江大学参加活动时合影。照片由安德里亚·卡尔夫提供。

萨尔法蒂补充道：“安德里亚主要在美国和欧洲工作。她的大多数客户对她的灵性和疗愈能力比对韩国传统更感兴趣。通过这种方式，她展现了跨文化交流如何造福全球人民，以及灵性实践如何超越国界。”

K萨满教的全球传播

韩国流行文化的全球影响力，使包括萨满教在内的韩国文化被韩国乃至世界各地更广泛的受众所了解。通过韩国流行文化，乃至人工智能驱动的在线萨满服务，人们正从全新的视角接触这一传统。

当被问及这些变化时，卡尔夫表示：“我认为这极大地提高了韩国萨满教的知名度。许多人最初是通过电影、电视或流媒体平台接触到韩国萨满教的。这会激发人们的好奇心，这是件好事。但与此同时，娱乐不应取代对鲜活的精神和文化传统的理解、责任和修行。”

安德里亚·卡尔夫 (Andrea Kalff) 于六月在首尔西部西江大学的一次活动中，讲述了她皈依韩国萨满教的经历。图片由安德里亚·卡尔夫提供。

韩流不仅在流行文化领域，而且在韩国传统文化遗产方面都引起了公众的关注。

卡尔夫说：“有些人只对美学或戏剧方面感兴趣。另一些人则从流行文化入手，但最终会对韩国历史、仪式和宗教产生浓厚的兴趣。关键问题在于，好奇心是否能引导他们进行更深入的学习，并最终让他们承担起作为‘巫师’的命运。”她补充道，这里“巫师”指的是韩语中的萨满。

现代韩国萨满教的一个发展趋势是人工智能驱动的占卜和萨满服务。当被问及人工智能在当今仪式环境中的地位时，卡尔夫表示：“科技仅仅是一种工具。它可以帮助人们更便捷地获取信息或进行沟通。然而，真正的仪式是建立在人的在场、关系、责任和生活经验之上的。人工智能无法取代传统‘直觉’的精神、情感和社群层面。但我多年来也了解到，客户无需在场，这意味着即使客户不在场，也能进行‘直觉’解读。”

2013年3月，德国萨满安德烈亚·卡尔夫在德国埃格施塔特为一位顾客提供服务。图片由安德烈亚·卡尔夫提供。

卡尔夫继续说道：“科技或许会改变人们的沟通方式，但仪式本身仍然是韩国萨满教的核心。只要老师们继续负责任地传承这一传统，直觉就仍将是其根基。”

萨尔法蒂补充道：“我希望韩国萨满教能够继续对韩国国内外许多人的生活产生积极影响。我也希望韩国人能够继续与萨满面对面交流，而不是全部转向线上沟通。我认为，在往往疏离且功利化的都市生活中，萨满与信众之间的直接交流是一种意义非凡的互动。”

卡尔夫反思自己的实践时表示，她希望自己的“工作能够促进不同文化之间的尊重对话”。

“我不认为自己是在改变韩国萨满教。相反，我希望帮助其他人欣赏它的深邃内涵，同时探索传统仪式知识如何能为当代心理学、精神病学、创伤研究和跨文化理解等领域的讨论做出贡献。”

请访问 andrea-kalff.com 获取更多信息。

韩国萨满教术语