Jeju's Largest Shamanic Ritual 'Jeju Keun Gut' to Become an Intangible Cultural Asset

Recognition Notice for Jeju Keungut Preservation Society as Holder Organization

'Jeju Keun Gut,' the largest shamanistic ritual in Jeju, will be designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 25th that it will finalize the designation after collecting opinions from various sectors for a month and reviewing them through the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee. This is the first time in 41 years since November 1980, when Jeju's shamanistic ritual 'Jeju Pilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut' was designated as an intangible cultural heritage.

Jeju Keun Gut is a shamanistic ritual that has been passed down in Jeju for a long time. It fully embodies the life history of the local people through music, dance, and play. Usually, it involves five or more shamans, including the chief shaman (called 'simbang' in Jeju), and lasts about 7 to 15 days. Numerous gods are invited and seated at the ritual altar, followed by the sequence of Yeongsin (the shaman welcoming the gods), Osin (the shaman praising and entertaining the gods through dance and song), and Songsin (the shaman sending off the gods after the ritual). The narrative songs called Yeoldubonpuri reflect the Jeju people's concepts of creation, life, and death, allowing a complete understanding of the local worldview. Yeoldubonpuri refers to the act of a simbang sitting in front of the ritual table and reciting the gods' histories. The lyrics use the old Jeju dialect as it was. The Cultural Heritage Administration described it as "a linguistically important cultural asset, comparable to a living Jeju dialect dictionary."

The Cultural Heritage Administration has announced its intention to recognize the Jeju Keun Gut Preservation Society as the holder organization. Established in September 2012, the society possesses the transmission capabilities to faithfully perform Jeju Keun Gut. It was evaluated as suitable due to its outstanding commitment to transmission and other factors.

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