Korean Dictionary
How to say "Shamanism" in Korean
“Shamanism” in Korean is 무교 (pronounced "Mugyo").
무교
Mugyo
Usage & Context
Shamanism is an ancient Korean religious practice that predates Buddhism and Christianity. It remains influential in Korean folk culture and traditional rituals.
Example Sentence
무교는 한국의 오래된 종교입니다.
Shamanism is an ancient Korean religion.
How to use 무교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Shamanism” is 무교, romanized as Mugyo.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 무교.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'mu-gyo'. Two syllables: 'mu' (like 'moo'), 'gyo' (a 'gy' glide into 'oh').
More Example Sentences
cultural discussion
한국 무교는 오랜 역사를 가지고 있어요.
Korean shamanism has a long history.
religious explanation
무교에서 무당이 중요한 역할을 해요.
In shamanism, shamans play an important role.
modern culture
무교 전통은 지금도 남아 있어요.
Shamanic traditions still remain today.
Cultural Context
무교 (巫敎 'shaman religion') refers to Korean folk shamanism, distinct from the homophone 무교 ('no religion'). It centers on 무당 (shamans, often female) who perform 굿 ceremonies to connect with spirits. Though not mainstream, it retains cultural presence — you'll see 점집 (fortune-telling houses with 무당) near markets. The TV show/film '파묘' (Exhuma, 2024) brought shamanism back into pop culture attention.
Editorial note
We review entries like 무교 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
무교에 관심이 있어요.
I'm interested in shamanism.
무당에게 점을 봤어요.
I had my fortune told by a shaman.
무교는 한국 전통 신앙이에요.
Shamanism is a Korean traditional faith.
Related Expressions
무당
mudang
shaman
굿
gut
shamanic ritual
점
jeom
fortune telling
신내림
sinnaerim
spirit possession (to become a shaman)
More Religion Words
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