She entered the sociology department at Seoul National University and spent her 20s in the student and labour movements. In her 30s, she joined the programme as a broadcast writer. At the age of 40, she studied abroad in the United States, where she earned a PhD and taught citizen journalism.

Shaman Kim Kum-Hua was born in 1931 in the Hwanghae Province – now part of North Korea – only to later settle in Seoul. In 1984, she received the title of ‘Living National Treasure’ in recognition of her work in preserving a number of rituals, such as the spectacular fishing-boat blessing. She received her initiation ceremony at the age of 17 after a mysterious illness showed her as being ‘chosen’. In 1974, she won National Prize for Popular Arts. This marked a turning point in Korean history because, at the time, shamanism was considered neither as a respectable profession nor as a legitimate art form. Yet Kim Kum-hwa’s deep spirituality, verve, divining powers and gracefully elegant movements are testament to a rare form of perfection.

재미있는 이야기와 멋진 사람들의 세계에 다가가고 싶어 방송작가로 사회생활을 시작했고 [매거진 t], [아이즈] 등에서 10여 년간 대중문화 기자로 일했다. 언제나 재미있는 글을 쓰고 싶었지만 늘 뜻대로 되지는 않았고, 2015년 이후 일련의 사건들을 계기로 여성으로서 한국 대중문화를 어떻게 볼 것인지 고민하다가 『괜찮지 않습니다』, 『엄마는 되지 않기로 했습니다』 등을 썼다. 여성과 대중문화에 관한 글을 주로 쓴다 함께 쓴 책으로는 『을들의 당나귀 귀』와 『페미니즘 교실』, 『나의 복숭아』 등이 있다. 삶의 기본 상태가 느림과 미룸인 탓에 늘 마음이 바쁘지만, 천천히 계속 쓸 이야기를 찾고 있다.