The South Korean President and the Shaman

[kamalktk]

A mysterious shaman is at the center of a South Korean political scandal

http://qz.com/821612/a-rasputinesqu...ke-down-south-koreas-president-park-geun-hye/

more at link above
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The mystery that surrounds Choi Soon-sil, the close confidante of South Korean president Park Geun-hye who is at the center of a snowballing political scandal is complex and continues to unfold. At its heart, Koreans see their president as being under the spell of a “palm-reader” and even a quack.
.....
According to Korean media (link in Korean), Choi in return doled out baffling advice to Park, like to avoid wearing red or white clothes, while offering amulets and other “magical” protection. During the president’s inauguration, a nearby tree was decorated with a number of silk purses, a touch allegedly added by Choi as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.

 

[ramonmercado]

A mysterious shaman is at the center of a South Korean political scandal

http://qz.com/821612/a-rasputinesqu...ke-down-south-koreas-president-park-geun-hye/

more at link above
---------------------------------------
The mystery that surrounds Choi Soon-sil, the close confidante of South Korean president Park Geun-hye who is at the center of a snowballing political scandal is complex and continues to unfold. At its heart, Koreans see their president as being under the spell of a “palm-reader” and even a quack.
.....
According to Korean media (link in Korean), Choi in return doled out baffling advice to Park, like to avoid wearing red or white clothes, while offering amulets and other “magical” protection. During the president’s inauguration, a nearby tree was decorated with a number of silk purses, a touch allegedly added by Choi as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.

Prayers in front of a pig's head? That'll attract Cameron's attention.

Interesting story.

 

[Yithian]

The only stories I've ever seen that have generated similar quantities of wall-to-wall coverage and analysis in Korea in the last ten years are: a) The sinking of the Saewol - think the Herald of Free Enterprise with the victims 90% children, b) The suicide (via cliff-top plunge) of former President No Moo-Hyun, and c) The worst of the flare-ups with North Korea when war appeared a real possibility.

In other words, this is an epic scandal and people are outraged -- and not just the kind of people who are usually outraged about everything.

 

[Yithian]

As a point of reference for how badly this is going down: President Park currently has an approval rating of 5% - that's almost the opposite of Kim Jong-un!

 

[Mythopoeika]

As a point of reference for how badly this is going down: President Park currently has an approval rating of 5% - that's almost the opposite of Kim Jong-un!

Kim Jong-Un has an approval rating of 105%!