The major veins of definitions regarding shamanism in Japanese academic discourse can be summarized as follows. The shaman is an individual with the magico-religious professional capacity to directly engage with spiritual being while under an altered state of consciousness (trance) to fulfill various roles and functions such prophecy, oracle, divination, performance of rituals and healing. Shamanism is a magico-religious phenomenon constructed of a supernatural worldview, rites, clients and followers centered around the shaman. It is believed to have existed in continuity from the prehistoric era to the present day (Sato, 2010). Buddhist monks, Catholic priests and Protestant pastors belong to the priest category of religious actors who offer prayer and conduct rituals on behalf of individuals or the society directed at spiritual beings in a unidirectional relationship and under a normal state of consciousness. On the other hand, Shamans are religious actors who perform various roles in direct interaction with spiritual beings.

The Republic of Korea has undertaken systematic efforts to safeguard intangible cultural heritage since enactment of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act in 1962 and implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005. Korea has a long history of institutions for cultural heritage safeguarding. Korean ICH assets are basically protected under three government organizations known as Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), Intangible Cultural Heritage Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and National Intangible Heritage Centre (NIHC) of Korea.A variety of national institutions have taken charge of transmission, promotion, education documenting and archiving ICH elements in consideration of their domains and characteristics. Those organizations are working collaboratively with each and many other ICH stake holders such as government and non-governmental organizations, education institutions, ICH holders and community people as well as foreign countries and international organizations in the safeguarding process of traditional music and dancing.