Comedienne Kim Ju-yeon, Now a Shaman, Shares Her Life: 'I'm Grateful People Recognize Me as a Fortune Teller More Than an Entertainer After 20 Years'

Former comedienne Kim Ju-yeon, who is now a shaman, has shared an update on her life.

A video titled "Two Years Since Becoming a Shaman After Retiring from Entertainment... A Beautiful Comedienne I Met at a Restaurant" was uploaded to the YouTube channel 'One Mic' on the 21st.

In the video, Kim Ju-yeon introduced herself as 'Shaman Byeolsanggungdaesin Kim Ju-yeon,' formerly 'Comedienne Kim Ju-yeon.' She is currently helping out at her parents' barbecue restaurant. "It's my mom and dad's store, and I help out when my mom calls me for SOS. I go after tending to my shrine when I finish early. I don't know if it's much of a help," she said. "It's been almost 20 years since I was on TV. People still recognize me as comedienne Ju-yeon, but now I tell them I'm a shaman rather than an entertainer. I'm just grateful that they still recognize me."

Regarding the change in business, Kim Ju-yeon jokingly remarked, "They told me to run a barbecue restaurant from the start, but I didn't listen, and now they see their daughter as a shaman. At least I revitalized this auspicious spot. I'm satisfied with that. Of course, it will do well. If it doesn't, I'll make it do well."

Kim Ju-yeon's mother shared her feelings about her daughter becoming a shaman: "She's stable now, and I've completely accepted it. My daughter is living well without any health issues, so I can finally put my mind at ease. At first, it wasn't worry, but more like she had gone to another world. I thought, 'How can this be happening to me? Does my child have to go through this?' It was very difficult. Now, I have no choice but to believe it myself. I've seen her in that state."

She continued with affection for her daughter, "My daughter is so filial. She understands my feelings like a friend. She's so filial. Honestly, even though she's my daughter, she's kind and pretty. She's completely different from her appearance."

Recalling the time she received the Gut (shamanistic ritual) due to paralysis on one side of her body, Kim Ju-yeon said, "When I first appeared on TV, people didn't believe me. The most shocking comment was when I said I had paralysis on one side, and people replied, 'Show us proof,' 'Bring a confirmation letter.' I was shocked by those comments." She added, "Now that I look healthy, people say that, but you can't say that to someone who is genuinely ill, can you? Since receiving the spirit, I haven't been sick even once. I haven't even had minor ailments. I couldn't live without allergy medication, but my allergies are gone too. So, there are many surprising things."

She described the pain of stepping on the 'Jakdu' (a ritualistic sword-like altar): "Honestly, every time I step on it, I'm scared and want to run away. It's a lie to say it doesn't hurt at all. It feels like stepping on chopsticks. That's the level of pain." She explained, "Try standing on a veranda ledge once. It feels like that."

Regarding the initial descent ritual, she recalled, "It was truly terrifying. You can't forget it. Honestly, you're supposed to be in a trance, but I wasn't. Half of me was conscious. I was so scared. When they put a knife to my face, I kept looking at it. I was afraid of getting cut. My eyes were wide open. As I ran looking at the sky, I was thinking, 'Oh my god.'"

When asked about religion, Kim Ju-yeon stated, "Even as a shaman, it has nothing to do with religion. I was Christian. You might think people who come for fortune-telling are mostly Buddhist, but Christians are the most common. I attended a Christian school for 100 years, and my spiritual mother received Catholic baptism. Religion is just religion."

When asked if people come for fortune-telling with ulterior motives, Kim Ju-yeon admitted, "Yes. Their eyes change. When I read fortunes, I first look into people's eyes. As we talk, their eyes change. They start looking at me as someone they are attracted to. Then I think, 'What's this?' You know when eyes turn into heart shapes, right? People know. A director can tell if a woman is interested by her actions and eyes, right? When a person who came for a reading has different eyes, I tend to avoid looking at them."

She also mentioned receiving occasional personal contact: "I tell them not to contact me privately. They ask pointless questions like, 'Can shamans not get married?' or 'Can shamans not date?' But you can do both. Everyone in my spiritual family, except for me, is married. I want to get married. But I'm always at the shrine or the ritual ground. When I go outside, it's a prayer site. I have no one to meet," she confessed her difficulties.

Kim Ju-yeon concluded by saying, "There are all sorts of people. They say, 'You're very different from how you were on TV,' but it's not that I'm different; it's my original personality. At first, they get scolded and are taken aback, but they really enjoy it. Many people call saying, 'I need to get scolded by you, teacher.' They don't necessarily come for fortune-telling; they come because they want to talk comfortably, as they have nowhere else to talk. After talking, they feel relieved and thankful, saying it's comfortable and fun to chat with me. Being a shaman isn't just about reading fortunes; comforting and consoling them is also my job. When their hardships lessen and are resolved, that's when I feel I've done my job, and that's the most rewarding time."

Korean netizens reacted positively, with comments like: "Wishing shaman Kim Ju-yeon a happy new start," "I've been a fan since your TV days, and I'll support you no matter what," and "Your mother's love is touching. Wishing you only good things ahead."