Mountains: Gods, Ghosts, & Killers (Re-release)
Send us a textJoin The Seoul Hike to learn more about Korea's mountain myths and legends.Mountains have always played a significant role in Korea's culture, folklore, and religion. From providing the backdrop for Korea's founding myth to being central to shamanic practices, the mountains are more than just natural landmarksâthey are spiritual hubs, filled with gods, ghosts, and tragic tales.In this episode, we explore Koreaâs deep connection with its mountains, starting with the legend of Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea. His story is tied to Baekdusan, one of the most sacred mountains in Korea. We dive into the Baekdu Daegan mountain range, the main system running along the peninsulaâs east coast, and how it has shaped the cultural landscape of the country.The central figure in Korean mountain culture is sanshin, the mountain gods. These deities are often depicted as wise old men, but female representations, called yeo-sanshin, also exist. We discuss the tradition of communing with sanshin, a practice that has brought together Korean shamanism and Buddhist traditions. We highlight some of Koreaâs most notable sacred mountains, such as Gyerongsan and Inwangsan, where shamans hold sanshinje rituals to honor these deities.As much as mountains are associated with spirituality, they also harbor ghostly legends. From the infamous Dalgyal gwishinâa faceless and limbless ghost said to haunt the mountainsâto the tragic ghost stories passed down through generations, the mountains of Korea are steeped in eerie tales. One such story is from Seoraksan, where a motherâs undying love for her child is immortalized in the Daeseung Falls.But the mountains aren't just home to spiritsâthey have also been sites of violence and murder. From the Frog Boys to the tragic case of a 16-year-old girl found dead on a mountain, the mountains have witnessed dark chapters in Koreaâs history. We also delve into the chilling story of a murder on Eodeungsan in April 2016, where a man, struggling with mental health, killed an elderly hiker.In this episode, we also discuss personal encounters with ghosts in the mountains, as well as the cultural and spiritual significance of these sacred sites.Tune in to hear the full stories of Koreaâs mountainStarting at just $5/month, get a lot of great extra content by going to our Patreon Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.comSupport the showJoin our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel EarlJoel BonominiDevon HiphnerGabi PalominoSteve MarshEva SikoraRon ChangMackenzie MooreMinseok LeeHunter WinterCecilia Löfgren DumasJosephine RydbergDevin BuchananAshley WrightGeorge Irion Facebook Page | Instagram
New Zealand