International Society for Academic Research on Shamanism

ISARS 2026 SEOUL

Shamanism and Power
Dialogues Across Knowledge, Art, and Society
June 24–27, 2026 · Sogang University, Seoul

Four-day program at a glance. Click any session to open its day page; click presentation titles there to read abstracts.

24Wednesday, June 24Day One
Time
Sessions
09:00–10:00
Registration and Welcoming
10:00–10:30
Opening Ceremony (Mary Hall)
10:30–11:00
Keynote 1 — Rev. Daniel Kister (Mary Hall)
11:00–11:30
Conference Orientation
11:30–14:00
Lunch (Provided) & Korean Dance Performance
14:00–15:30
ACKR Documentary Film Premiere (Mary Hall)
15:30–16:00
Coffee Break
16:00–17:30
Voices of the Spirits: Vietnamese Shamanism between Religion, Power, and Heritage4 peopleShamanism in Transition: Indigenous Knowledge, Power, and Representation in Southeast Asia4 peopleEcology, Sustainability & Non-human Beings4 peopleShamanism in History, Archaeology & Mythology4 peopleGender, Female Shamans, Body & Power4 people
17:30–19:00
Dinner (On your own)
19:00–21:00
Music Performance — Korean Shamanism
25Thursday, June 25Day Two
Time
Sessions
09:00–10:00
Registration and Welcoming
10:00–11:30
South Asian Shamanism and the Power of the Word – Part I5 peopleChanges in Shamanism and Modern Society4 peopleKorean Shamanism in Cinema, Media & Popular Culture4 peopleTheory, Definition & Comparative Study4 peopleSouth Asia & Iu-Mien Shamanism4 people
11:30–12:30
Keynote 2 — Dr. Laurel Kendall (J302)
12:30–14:00
ISARS General Assembly (For Members)
12:30–14:30
Lunch (Provided) & Korean Dance Performance
14:30–16:00
South Asian Shamanism and the Power of the Word – Part II6 peopleAppropriation and Transmission of Sacredness: Shamanism as a Contemporary Folklore4 peoplePost-Soviet Siberian Shamanism4 peopleTaiwan Indigenous Communities4 peopleChina & East Asian Shamanism4 people
16:00–16:30
Coffee Break
16:30–18:00
Interferences: Shamanic Traditions and Christianity in Interaction5 peopleEntangled Power: Money, Heritage, Technology, and Metaphysics in Korean Shamanism4 peopleArt Derived from Shamanism5 peopleThe Shaman's Experience and Musical Creativity/Sacredness in Korean Shamanism5 peopleContemporary Shamanism & Healing4 people
18:30–21:00
Conference Banquet & Korean Nongak Performance
26Friday, June 26Day Three
Time
Sessions
09:00–10:30
The Global Appeal of Korean Shamanism5 peopleContemporary Shamanism, Power, the Arts and Modern Expressions6 peopleShamanism, Art & Diaspora4 peopleShamanic Materiality: Body, Object & Performance4 people
10:30–11:00
Coffee Break
11:00–12:30
Shamanism and Contradictions in Africa and Beyond – Part 14 peopleNegotiating Spirits: Contemporary Shamanism in China (I)4 peopleK-pop Demon Hunters and Shamanism4 peopleMongolian Shamanism4 peopleDigital, Media & Contemporary Shamanism5 peopleTheory, Movement & Yakutia4 people
12:30–14:00
Lunch (Provided) & Korean Dance Performance
14:00–15:30
Negotiating Spirits: Contemporary Shamanism in China (II)4 peopleSounding Shamanic Worlds: Music, Rhythm, Dance, and Voice from Court and Shrine to the Secular Stage5 peopleKorean Shamanism: Ritual, Music & Region4 peopleVietnam & Korea: Comparative Shamanism4 peopleCross-Cultural Asia-Pacific4 peopleMethodology & Ethics in Shamanism Research4 people
15:30–16:00
Coffee Break
16:00–17:30
Shamanism and Contradictions in Africa and Beyond – Part 23 peopleMultibeing Agencies, Joint Power: Mediating Power Through Craft, Ritual, and Relationships4 peopleKorean Shamanism: Urban, Religion & Modernity5 peopleMaritime Southeast Asia & Global Contexts4 peopleCross-Cultural Healing, Power & Cosmologies4 people
17:45–18:00
Closing Ceremony (J302)
18:00–19:00
Dinner (Sandwich Provided, Mary Hall)
19:00–21:00
Performance Art (Mary Hall)
27Saturday, June 27Post-Conference Tours
Time
Sessions
10:00–12:00
Shamanism Museum Special Tour — Led by Director Yang Jongsung · Free Admission (Self-Guided)
13:00–17:00
Official Guided Tour (Gyeongbokgung Palace & National Folk Museum) · Advance Reservation Required