Fire, water and big data: AI moves into fortune-telling as 'saju' wave continues

At a cafe in the trendy neighborhood of Ikseon-dong in central Seoul, visitors are getting their fortunes read based on their "saju," or fortune-telling based on birth charts, but not by a seasoned practitioner, but by an AI shaman.

A screen shows an AI robot named Ami at a cafe in Ikseon-dong in Jongno District, central Seoul [KIM CHANG-YONG]

Forget crystal balls — in the Ikseon-dong neighborhood nestled in the heart of Seoul, an AI shaman and a robot physiognomist are telling fortunes with big data instead of incense.

These robots, named Dangun and Ami, greet customers at a cafe in the trendy area of Jongno District, central Seoul. The cafe introduces Ami as a “robot shaman who rides algorithms instead of a ritual blade” and Dangun as a “robot physiognomist who lays out big data instead of a straw mat” as it judges character based on facial characteristics.

Around noon on Tuesday, the entrance to the cafe — decorated with colorful bands reminiscent of a traditional fortune-telling shop — led to a ritual table set before portraits of the two robots. Turning left revealed a red booth housing Ami, the shaman.

Inside the booth, after the curtain was drawn, Ami opened its closed eyes and said, “Looking at your life, I see a slight worry. If you show sincerity, I will draw a talisman for you.”

After paying 7,000 won ($5), a screen asked for a name and date of birth. The next step involved a brief explanation of the user’s saju, fortune-telling based on birth charts and influenced by five elements of nature, followed by five questions.

Once the answers were submitted, “I hope your heart feels a little lighter,” Ami said, and printed out a card-shaped talisman. Scanning the QR code printed on the card displayed a written summary of the fortune told by Ami.

Across from Ami sits Dangun, the physiognomist robot. When seated in front of it, lights illuminated Dangun’s "eyes" and a photo was immediately taken. After paying 8,000 won, Dangun began drawing a caricature using a robotic arm positioned beside it.

An AI robot named Dangun draws a caricature using a robotic arm at a cafe in Ikseon-dong in Jongno District, central Seoul [KIM CHANG-YONG]

At the same time, it provided an analysis of the visitor’s facial features, beginning with an overall assessment of face shape and continuing with detailed interpretations of the eyebrows, the forehead and other features. The drawing was completed quickly, and scanning another QR code revealed a more detailed written explanation of the physiognomy reading.

Customer satisfaction with these AI robots at the cafe appeared high.

“I often go to fortune-tellers, and I came because I heard an AI robot could read fortunes and physiognomy,” said a visitor surnamed Kim who came to the cafe on Monday. “It’s not much different from a real shaman, and since it’s a robot, it’s easier to ask sensitive questions, so I think I’ll use it often.”

Interest in AI-driven divination has grown alongside renewed attention to shamanistic beliefs. The trend has been amplified by the popularity of the Disney+ occult game show “Battle of Fates,” which features 49 shamans, fortune-tellers and physiognomists.

A poster for the Disney+ occult game show ″Battle of Fates,″ which features shamans, fortune-tellers and physiognomists [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Popular attractions include an "AI shrine" exhibited in the nearby Insa-dong neighborhood late last year by KAIST, and the “Yeoramgok rock-carved Buddha AI” introduced in early 2024 by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

The shrine, large enough for one person to enter, connects to a “digital memorial tablet” with personal information such as name, birth date and occupation. The AI responds to questions based on the principles of saju and fate analysis.

The “Yeolamgok AI,” a counseling chatbot, provides advice grounded in Buddhist writings and teachings when users input concerns.

AI-based naming services have also emerged. These services generate names based on saju and name analysis theories, and AI prompts for naming are widely shared online.

A shaman performs a ritual in this file photo [YONHAP]

Fortune-telling enthusiasts are relying evermore on AI, going as far as to name their children based on advice from technology. A couple in Yangcheon District, western Seoul, used ChatGPT to name their child born in January this year.

“We asked a monk my mother knows to give our child a name, and he said using AI would be the same,” the couple said. “We asked for a name that matched the baby’s saju, and it suggested ‘Tae-oh.’ We’re satisfied because it’s not common and is said to complement what the child lacks.”

In saju, it is believed that individuals are born with certain "elements" imparting strong features, while others are lacking.

Experts interpret the trend as a convergence of traditionally niche shamanistic practices and the increase in accessibility of AI.

A fortune teller reads off a saju (fortune-telling based on birth charts) book for a customer at a shop in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on Dec. 31, 2025. [JOONGANG ILBO]

“Many people who read fortunes do so without properly accumulated knowledge, but AI learns everything and is inexpensive, so there’s no reason for customers not to use it,” said Lee Eun-hee, a professor emeritus of consumer economics at Inha University. “There are many cases where expensive talismans are sold based on bad fortunes, but AI does not pose that risk, which allows consumers to use it more comfortably.”

“As anxiety and a desire for psychological stability have spread among young people, saju and fortune-telling have become trends,” said cultural psychologist Han Min. “AI, which is more accessible in terms of cost and time, has been combined with this demand, driving its popularity.”

“Unlike spirit readings that only shamans who have undergone spiritual initiation can perform, fortune-telling and physiognomy are based on systematized theories, so AI can perform them at a level comparable to humans,” Han added.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. BY KIM CHANG-YONG [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]