K-dramas on shamanism, spirits gain worldwide popularity

‘Head Over Heels’ and ‘The Haunted Palace’ top streaming charts with emotional and spiritual themes

Actress Cho Yi-hyun, who plays high school shaman Park Seong-ah in tvN’s "Head Over Heels," performs a ritual praying for spirits’ peaceful rest. /tvN

“Head Over Heels,” the tvN fantasy rom-com that recently finished its 12-episode run, blends supernatural folklore with a heartfelt coming-of-age romance. Cho Yi-hyun stars as Park Seong-ah, a high school student who secretly works as the shaman Cheonji Seonnyeo. When she learns her classmate Bae Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo), whom she falls for at first sight, is destined to die in 21 days, she becomes his “human talisman” to protect him from vengeful spirits.

Actress Kim Mi-kyung (right) plays Seong-ah’s mentor and senior shaman who guided her through becoming a shaman in "Head Over Heels." /tvN

Seong-ah, played by actress Cho Yi-hyun (left), falls for her classmate Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo) and vows to protect him in "Head Over Heels." /tvN

As their bond deepens, so do their emotional wounds—complicated when Gyeon-woo becomes possessed by the spirit of a student soldier who died during the Korean War. In a quiet moment of doubt, Seong-ah turns to her mentor, General Dongcheon (Kim Mi-kyung), who gently reminds her of what truly matters. “Rituals and talismans are just tools,” she says. “The heart is what matters. If you care for a wounded heart, everything will return to its place.”

Korean shamanism has gained international attention following the global success of Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” which combines K-pop with Korean spiritual traditions. The rise of “K-shamanism” is now spreading beyond animation, with Korean dramas drawing strong interest abroad.

While “Head Over Heels” recorded domestic TV ratings of around 4%, it has reached 240 million digital views. According to Good Data Corporation’s FunDex platform, it ranked first for two consecutive weeks in the combined TV and OTT buzz category as of July 22. Actors Choo Young-woo and Cho Yi-hyun also placed first and second in cast popularity.

Seong-ah (Cho Yi-hyun) becomes the “human talisman” for Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo), who is possessed by the spirit of a student soldier from the Korean War. /tvN

A lighthearted moment between Seong-ah (Cho Yi-hyun) and Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo) in "Head Over Heels." /tvN

Global OTT ranking site FlixPatrol ranked the series No. 5 on Amazon Prime Video’s worldwide TV chart on July 27. It also placed first in Southeast Asian countries including Thailand and Indonesia, and ranked in the top 10 in France, Italy, Poland, Finland, and Sweden.

Another shaman-themed TV series, SBS’s “The Haunted Palace,” concluded last month with a strong 11% rating. The drama centers on a shaman (Kim Ji-yeon) and a mythical serpent (Yook Sung-jae) who work together to appease vengeful spirits tied to the royal family. The show depicts various traditional Korean ghosts, including water spirits, one-legged ghosts, shoe-stealing spirits, and towering beings formed from unresolved grudges. It reached No. 1 on Netflix Korea and topped charts in four countries including Japan.

Actress Kim Ji-yeon, who plays shaman Yeo-ri in SBS’s "The Haunted Palace," unravels royal secrets while facing a mythical serpent’s curse. /SBS

The South China Morning Post noted that while Western occult shows tend to focus on horror, action, or comedy, Korean dramas uniquely connect the spiritual world with themes of emotional healing. They portray shamanistic rituals in a stylish and empathetic way, embracing characters who are often marginalized or isolated.

Actor Ma Dong-seok stars as Tae-san, the tiger-symbol leader, in the upcoming TV series "Twelve," premiering next month. /STUDIO X+U

Popular tiger character Derpy and main protagonist Rumi from Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters," inspired by traditional Korean folk paintings. /Netflix