Bidan A Appearing at the Internal Affairs Hearing: "At First, I Asked About Fortune, Then Mentioned State Affairs"

Lee Seon-jin, the Shaman Visited by No Sang-won,
Testifies at the National Assembly

"At first, he asked about personal fortune... but from 2023, he started mentioning state affairs."

Lee Seon-jin, a shaman known to have been visited dozens of times before the December 3 emergency martial law, appeared at the National Assembly on the 4th. He is known to have been visited by former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command (indicted and detained) No Sang-won.

Yonhap News

Also known by the name 'Bidan A-ssi,' Lee runs a fortune-telling shop located in Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province, which No, accused of involvement in planning the emergency martial law situation, reportedly visited about 20 times.

At the 2nd hearing of the 'Special Committee for the Truth Investigation of the Charge of Rebellion through the Declaration of Emergency Martial Law under the Yoon Seok-yeol Government,' Lee testified that former Commander No began asking about 'state affairs' and fortune-telling from 2023.

In response to a question from Han Byung-do, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking whether former Commander No brought a list of soldiers to identify traitors and requested fortune-telling, Lee answered, "Yes."

He added, "He often asked whether those involved together could follow through to the end, and frequently inquired about the fortunes of each soldier."

However, when asked if there was any direct discussion related to emergency martial law, he replied, "Not at all."

When asked whether No Sang-won requested a gut ritual (shamanistic ceremony) (by Min Byung-duk of the Democratic Party), Lee said, "He did not request it."

Below is a Q&A between Han Byung-do of the Democratic Party and Lee Seon-jin.

- Did former Commander No Sang-won visit frequently from February 2022 to January 2024?

▶ Yes.

- Did he start mentioning state affairs from 2024 after initially asking about personal fortune?

▶ He started mentioning (state affairs) from 2023.

- At first, did he ask about fortune-telling related to 'identifying traitors'?

▶ Yes.

- Did he say the subjects of the fortune-telling were soldiers?

▶ Yes. He asked whether those who worked with him could stay together until the end.

- Was there any talk about martial law?

▶ No.

- Did No Sang-won write things down with a pen, or did he bring photos or documents?

▶ Every time he came, he wrote with a pen. When he needed to see faces, he searched Naver on his phone and showed them.

- Did he ask who might betray him?

▶ He asked whether those who worked with him could trust him and follow through to the end. He asked a lot about their fortunes?whether they had room to advance, or if bad luck would stop their progress. He said that what I told him was almost the same as what he saw in the fortune-telling.

- How did he mention Kim Yong-hyun?

▶ At first, he brought Kim's name and birthdate. I said, "This person doesn't seem like an ordinary soldier," and he said, "He will become a minister later." He also asked, "Will there be any problem with Kim Yong-hyun advancing further?" He said, "If things go well with this person, maybe I can do state affairs again, maybe get reinstated."

- Did he say that if things went well, he might be able to go to Seoul?

▶ Yes.

- Did you get the impression that within the military, Kim Yong-hyun's position was being strengthened or that certain factions were being removed?

▶ No.

- He said it was an important matter, but what was the background for thinking later, when martial law broke out, "Ah, so that was it"?

▶ Every time he came, he asked about soldiers. He brought many young people. I think he was asking to systematically plan something and to understand these people in advance.

- Did he say he was a former Intelligence Command commander?

▶ He said he was a soldier who retired after the regime changed, a two-star general.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.