Kut (굿)

I have a really bad cold today and have been taking some medicane, but I still feel terrible. I wish there was a magic solution to help me get better… Which gets me thinking…has anyone ever heard of kut (굿) before?

What is kut (굿)? Kut (굿) is a ritual performed by a mudang (무당) or a shaman. The purpose for which a kut (굿) is performed varies. Before I get to that, let me explain more about what kut (굿) is. Kut (굿) is not a widespread practice, and is mostly performed in rural areas. Kut (굿) consists of the shaman being possessed by a spirit to the point where she takes on a different persona. The mudang (무당) wears an elaborate costume and performs a dance with a set of bells that ring with each step.

The mudang (무당) is always a woman. Usually women become a mudang (무당) after experiencing a mysterious illness for which no medical treatment can diagnose or cure. This illness is called a shinbyung (신병). To get rid of the shinbyung (신병), the mudang (무당) must undergo a ritual called ne-rim-kut (내림굿). Ne-rim-kut (내 림굿) is where the spirit possesses the woman and she eventually accepts the spirit as a part of her life. It’s kind of like an initiation ceremony for a mudang (무당).

Sometimes kut (굿) is performed for a family tormented by a sprit. In a ritual called sshit-kim-kut (씻김굿), the mudang (무당) tries to help the spirit pass to the afterlife peacefully. Sometimes an individual may die suddenly in an accident or die regrettably before their time. When that happens, the person may linger in this world as a spirit. To release this spirit or help them pass smoothly to the underworld, the mudang (무당) may perform some strange and hilarious gestures like spitting into someone’s face to rid of the spirit.

You may not personally believe in kut (굿), but some Korean people do. Some mudangs (무당) actually make a decent living out of kut (굿). Although many people in Korea look upon kut (굿) with suspicion, the practice of kut (굿) is still alive; despite the persecution of mudangs (무당) in the past. Again, you may not believe in kut (굿), but kut (굿) and the people who practice it are a unique part of Korean history and culture. Therefore, we should try to understand kut (굿) even if we don’t particularly subscribe to kut (굿) beliefs.

Want to know more about kut (굿)? Check out a youtube video about it: