shamanist

Few claims have been off-limits in the media coverage of the scandal, some going as far as suggesting the president is a puppet who hosted shamanist rituals at the presidential compound.

The president has denied media speculation that she took part in "shamanist rituals" at the Blue House, and promised to accept an investigation into her actions.

However, Park denied some of the more lurid rumours surrounding the scandal - including reports that she had fallen into a religious cult and conducted shamanist rituals in the presidential Blue House.

But far more intriguing than the legal possibilities raised by the case is the research Veatch did into one of Korea’s ancient cultures: shamanist religion.

Researchers believe the cave was never permanently inhabited by humans "but was instead of a sacred character" and "used for shamanist ritual practice".