Han Kang, the Mansin of the Minjung: mourning, resistance and healing through shamanic rituals and literature in contemporary Korea

This research examines the work of Han Kang (Nobel Prize for Literature 2024) through the lens of Korean Shamanism, proposing that the author can be understood as a “Mansin of the Minjung” and, more broadly, of those who suffered violent and unjust deaths, particularly in the context of political protest (as in Gwangju) and violence (as in Jeju). While the association between Han Kang and shamanic practice has been only marginally addressed in existing scholarship, this study develops a comprehensive analysis of this connection by bringing together literary criticism and studies on Korean Shamanism. This analysis was conducted by drawing on monographs, scholarly articles and ethnographic accounts, as well as close readings of Han Kang’s works—including 『소년이 온다』 (“Human Acts”) and 『작별하지 않는다』 (“We do not Part”) and by comparing them together. This research thus adopts a comparative methodological approach. It examines how her writing functions analogously to 굿 ([kut], shamanic rites), acting as a space for mourning, remembrance, resistance and the articulation of suppressed voices. The analysis demonstrates that Han Kang’s literary production can be interpreted as a form of ritual practice that seeks to give voice to the dead and the marginalised, thereby enacting a process of collective healing. Her works are shown to engage deeply with the historical and ideological dimensions of the Minjung movement, functioning both as an elegy for those who suffered in its name and as a broader reflection on collective trauma. By framing Han Kang’s writing as a form of shamanic mediation, this research also contributes to a reassessment of Korean Musok, challenging its frequent dismissal as superstition and highlighting its cultural and emotional significance. Ultimately, the study offers a new interpretative framework for understanding the intersection of literature, ritual and memory in contemporary Korean contexts.