See and Hear: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead | Asia Society Skip to main content
  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Garden Court Café
    • Leo Bar
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Family Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
    • Space Rental
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Become a Patron
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Our People
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
    • On Asia Blog
  • Video
    • All New York Videos
    • Arts
    • Current Affairs
    • Education
    • Policy
  • Space Rental
  • Shop
New York
Search
asiasociety.org
New York
Search
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Garden Court Café
    • Leo Bar
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Family Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
    • Space Rental
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Become a Patron
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Our People
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
    • On Asia Blog
  • Video
    • All New York Videos
    • Arts
    • Current Affairs
    • Education
    • Policy
  • Space Rental
  • Shop

  • All Posts
  • Event Recaps
  • On Asia Blog

See and Hear: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead

June 18th, 2018 by Ami Li

Last month, Asia Society welcomed shaman Park Miouk, the daughter of the legendary Park Byung-Chun, for a moving performance of Ssitkimkut, the traditional Korean ritual for the dead. A program that includes singing, dancing, live musical accompaniment, and ritual movements, the ceremony builds a bridge between the world of the living and the dead, cleanses the soul of the deceased and allows them to pass cleanly onto the next existence, and provides a sense of closure for those who remain in the land of the living. Joined on stage by musicians and dancers, Park Miouk conducted the same ceremony that her father first introduced to the U.S., at Asia Society, in 1994.

Here are some of our favorite photos from the evening, as well as complete video of the performance.

Offerings on stage at Ssitkimkut, the Korean shaman ritual of the dead at Asia Society New York
Offerings for the deceased on stage during Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York, May 18, 2018. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Shaman Park Miouk on stage during Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York
Shaman Park Miouk. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead
Ssitkimkut artistic director and ajaeng (zither) player Lee Tae Baek. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York
Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead in performance at Asia Society New York, May 18, 2018. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Dancer at Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York
Dancer Sue-Yoen Park performs as part of Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York, May 18, 2018. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Park Miouk performs Ssitkimkut at Asia Society New York
Park Miouk on stage during Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York, May 18, 2018. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York
Untying the knots that bind the dead to the world of the living. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)
Ssitkimkut: The Korean Shaman Ritual of the Dead at Asia Society New York
The completion of the bridge and conclusion of the ritual of Ssitkimkut. (Maria Baranova/Asia Society)

Watch a complete video of the performance:

  • All Posts
  • Event Recaps
  • On Asia Blog
We Know Asia,
Get to Know Us

Visit Us

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas

Global Network

  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC

Resources

  • Arts
  • Asia Blog
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video

Shop

  • AsiaStore

Initiatives

  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Learning Beyond School
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • Int'l Studies Schools Network
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit

About Asia Society

  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement

Connect

  • Email Signup
  • For the Media

©2021 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC