Executed for Fortune-Telling? North Korea’s Extreme Punishments—Treated as a Crime Like Drugs and Prostitution

North Korea has escalated tensions by blowing up sections of inter-Korean roads on the Gyeongui Line and the Donghae Line, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The detonation occurred on Tuesday on the northern side of the Military Demarcation Line, leading the South Korean military to heighten its surveillance and defense measures.

Amid the growing conflict, an unexpected trend is emerging in North Korea—fortune-telling is gaining popularity. Despite being referred to as “fortune-tellers” or “shamans” instead of traditional fortune-tellers, these practitioners play a significant role in offering comfort and guidance to North Koreans. Citizens seek out these figures for answers to questions about their future, family matters, travel, economic concerns, or even the potential promotion of officials.

In a country where access to information is tightly controlled, people turn to fortune-tellers for emotional relief and reassurance. However, these practices are officially banned. Fortune-telling, along with drug trafficking, prostitution, gambling, and smuggling, is considered a violation of socialist communal living and can result in severe punishment. In fact, fortune-telling is so heavily policed that in 2018, three women in Yanggang Province were reportedly executed by firing squad for practicing shamanism.

Despite these harsh penalties, the rise of fortune-telling in North Korea highlights the public’s desire for solace and certainty in an increasingly uncertain political climate.