Park Seo Hwi (or Park Seo Hui), a former member of the girl group LPG and a well-known announcer, has revealed the heartbreaking story behind her decision to undergo a spiritual initiation and become a shaman.
In the April 2, 2026 (KST) episode of MBN‘s Exclusive World, Park Seo Hwi—once known as a highly educated “brainy beauty” from Korea University—was shown living as a shaman at a shrine in central Seoul, dressed in traditional white robes.
Explaining what led her down this path, the former K-Pop star shared, “I kept having dreams where my family members died. They were so vivid that I would wake up screaming and crying.”
When I went to get a reading, I was told, ‘You are filled with spirits.’ I was told that if I didn’t undergo the spiritual initiation, those dreams could become prophetic. I had no choice but to choose this path to protect my family.
— Park Seo Hwi
Watching their daughter leave behind a glamorous career to become a shaman was devastating for her parents. Park Seo Hwi recalled seeing her father break down in tears on the day of her initiation ritual, saying, “It felt like I was becoming a sinner in my parents’ eyes.”
Her father, who accompanied her on her spiritual journey, also expressed his sorrow, saying, “She was a bright student, graduated from a prestigious university, and we raised her without lacking anything. I feel so bad for my daughter, this just breaks my heart,” as he ultimately broke down in tears.
Park Seo Hwi also shared that she avoided inviting her parents to her shrine out of fear it would make her father even more upset. However, she expressed her hope to one day confidently invite them, now that she feels more at peace with her path.
Born in 1993, Park Seo Hwi debuted in 2013 as a member of LPG under the stage name Ayul, later transitioning into a career as an announcer and weathercaster, and has appeared on various variety shows, including Kick A Goal and Game of Blood. In March 2026, she made the switch to leading life as a shaman, effectively retiring from her career as a broadcaster.
Watch Park Seo Hwi’s day in a life as a new shaman here:
