Shaman Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term for Fraud in Busan
A shaman in his 50s has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for defrauding a family by claiming that failure to receive a spiritual calling would bring misfortune. On June 6, the Busan District Court's Chief Judge Kim Jung-woo sentenced the defendant, referred to as A, to one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with 40 hours of community service.
A was accused of deceiving B, a person he knew, by asserting that without a spiritual calling, B's husband would soon fall ill or their daughter would have to become a shaman. From June to September 2023, A collected 79 million won (approximately $59,000) under the pretense of ritual expenses. It was reported that A was already in significant debt at the time of the crime.
Judge Kim noted that the methods of deception were particularly egregious and that the amount defrauded was substantial, with little effort made to repay the victims. However, he considered A's acknowledgment of the crime and the victims' lack of desire for punishment when determining the sentence.
