The movie “Dune” depicts a future where a large-scale rebellion erupts against the rule of artificial intelligence (AI), and a religious sect of superhumans gains power. This year, the South Korean film market seemed to embrace this futuristic world. While AI technology began to be seriously integrated into film production, audiences flocked to occult movies that defy scientific explanation.
Four Korean films—“Picnic,” “Exhuma,” “The Roundup: Punishment,” and “Handsome Guys”—surpassed the break-even point this year. Notably, two of these were occult films. “Exhuma,” a mystery involving a shaman, geomancer, and undertaker during a reburial, became the first occult film to exceed 10 million viewers. “Handsome Guys,” which combines comedy with the release of an evil spirit, attracted 1.37 million viewers. The independent art film “Late Night with the Devil,” which features summoning demons through a medium, also drew 100,000 viewers and continues its long run.
Once considered a subculture for enthusiasts, the occult has now infiltrated TV and OTT content. SBS’s “Possessed Love” and Netflix’s “Agents of Mystery” have added occult elements to dating and mystery variety shows. “Possessed Love,” where MZ generation fortune tellers predict each other’s love fortunes and date in temples, topped the trending dating shows, surpassing “I Am Solo.” A free marketing test called “My 60-Year Cycle Fate Drawing” attracted over 1.4 million participants. Cultural critic Jung Duk-hyun said, “In South Korea, the occult is being reinterpreted by mixing it with popular elements. Combined with familiar shamanic beliefs, it has become a genre that the public can enjoy.”
Korean occult documentaries exploring shamans and ghosts have also emerged. The Tving original documentary “Shaman: Ghost Story,” released on July 11, features stories from over ten individuals who claimed to have experienced spiritual possession, including nightly ghost attacks and a mother-daughter pair of hereditary shamans. The production team focused on shamanism’s healing aspects rather than scientifically verifying ghosts. Producer Park Min-hyuk said, “I discussed with younger colleagues and the MZ generation whether this topic would resonate, and the response was ‘the usefulness of ghosts.’ They believe in it if it helps solve their problems. It seems a culture has formed that consumes shamanism lightly rather than seriously.”
Experts link the occult craze to modern society’s uncertainties and future anxieties. More young people seek comfort in tarot, fortune-telling, and spiritual readings, similar to psychological counseling. Professor Seong Hae-young from Seoul National University’s Department of Religious Studies said, “Science does not predict the future or provide answers to specific life problems. No matter how advanced science and technology become, they cannot prevent the human desire for spiritual comfort when life is tough.” The rise in non-religious populations, now over 60%, and the detachment of the 20s and 30s from organized religion also play a role. Sung added that the weakening of institutional religion has allowed shamanic beliefs to resurface.
Technological advancements have expanded the non-contact fortune-telling market, lowering psychological barriers to occult content. Fortune tellers use social media for promotion, and people can easily access fortune-telling apps and YouTube channels, consuming occult content casually and remotely.
