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Song Sang-in, a MythSource painting
Korean

Song Sang-in

01Identity

Song Sang-in in Korean tradition

Song Sang-in began the story convinced that mutang, or spirit mediums, deceived people. As magistrate in Nam Won County, he ordered that any witch found there be beaten to death. Later, he encountered a woman carrying a ritual drum and heard her distinguish honest practitioners from false ones. Song tested her claim by asking her to call the spirit of a dead friend. The woman prepared food and wine, borrowed Song's clothes, and performed a calling rite. She then recounted private memories shared by the two friends. Song changed his judgement, rewarded her, and sent her away safely. The account presents the spirit's visit as part of its own supernatural story, not as verified fact.

SourceKorean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 1)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 2)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 3)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 4)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 5)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 6)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 7)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 8)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 9)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 10)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 11)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 12)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 13)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 14)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 15)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 16)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 17)· Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies (Im Bang / James S. Gale, 1913): XXV — The Honest Witch (EPUB text block 18)

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Song Sang-in

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Song Sang-in and the Honest Mutang

Song Sang-in distrusted mutang and believed their rites deceived the people. When he became magistrate of Nam Won County, he ordered that any witch found there be beaten to death. The order drove the local practitioners away. Some time later, while resting at Kwang-han Pavilion, Song saw a woman approach with a ritual drum. He had her brought before him and asked whether she knew his order. She said she did, but argued that false practitioners and honest mutang were not the same. She offered to prove her claim.

Song chose a dead friend as the test. The woman asked for food, wine, and a suit of his clothes. She arranged the offerings in the courtyard, put on the garments, rang a bell, and called toward the sky. She then spoke as though the friend had arrived. Her account recalled their childhood, lessons, examinations, work, and secrets they had shared. Song recognised details he believed only the two friends knew and began to weep. He ordered a richer offering for the visitor, who soon departed. Song then said he could no longer treat every mutang as a liar. He rewarded the woman, withdrew his order, and let her leave safely.

Song Sang-in and the Honest Mutang, a MythSource painting of the scene