Park Seo Hwi, a former member of girl group LPG and a broadcaster who worked as an announcer for 14 years, has revealed that she recently underwent a spiritual initiation ritual and entered the path of a shaman, drawing widespread attention.
On the April 2 broadcast of MBN’s 'Special World Report,' Park Seo Hwi appeared at a ritual site and shared the story behind her transformation. A pre-released clip already captured viewers’ attention with her unexpected new life.
In the video, Park Seo Hwi cited recurring nightmares as the reason she turned to shamanism. She explained, “I kept dreaming that my family members were dying,” adding, “As the dreams repeated, my anxiety grew, and I eventually went to have my fortune told.” She continued, “The first thing I heard there was that I was ‘filled with spirits.’ After that, I was told I needed to undergo a spiritual initiation ritual, and after much contemplation, I accepted it.”
She also revealed that the decision came after intense inner struggle. In an interview with Job Post, she said, “I suffered from spiritual illness and went through all kinds of hardships that pushed me to the edge. I had dreams, felt things, and even found myself unknowingly reading people’s fortunes. I tried rituals to avoid becoming a shaman, but there was no escaping it. In the end, I knelt before the spirits and accepted my fate.”
Her love for her family played a major role in her decision. “What could I do if I didn’t accept it? My family is everything to me. I’ve lived for them, so I had no choice,” she said. However, she did not hide her lingering attachment to her life as a broadcaster. “I want to live a normal life, continuing my broadcasting career like before. But I think I have to walk this path,” she said, eventually breaking down in tears.
Her new path has also affected her relationship with her family. The broadcast showed her avoiding her father, who came to see her, saying, “I’ll contact you when I’m ready.” Watching this, her father tearfully said, “The path of a shaman is not easy. She was a good student and graduated from a prestigious university—it’s heartbreaking.”
Born in 1993, Park Seo Hwi graduated from Korea University’s Division of International Studies. She gained attention as a campus “ulzzang” (popular beauty) and was cast, debuting as a member of LPG in 2013. She later established herself as an announcer at Yonhap News and Arirang TV.
In 2024, she appeared on SBS’s variety show 'Kick a Goal' as a member of FC Anaconda, even earning licenses as a soccer and futsal referee, showcasing her passion. Since 2019, she has also excelled in sports, winning first place in several international fitness competitions.
As she concluded her 14-year broadcasting career, she shared a heartfelt message with fans. “I am putting down the title of a girl group–turned–announcer that I’ve carried for 14 years and will now walk the path as a disciple of the spirits. I’m truly sorry for delivering such sudden news. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me—I was able to endure thanks to you. I will walk this new path with brightness and strength, so please continue to support me.”
She also shared her future aspirations. “I want to study step by step and create content that explains shamanism in the easiest and most engaging way. Using my strength in foreign languages, I also want to introduce Korean shamanism—‘K-shamanism’—to the world,” she said, expressing her determination to promote traditional Korean spiritual culture internationally.
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