During the 1930's, when Korea was ruled by Japan, a Japanese official of Yongdu-ri, Chungnam launched a war against jangseung, the totem poles, saying that he would thus eradicate superstition. He had all totem poles across the village pulled out and burned. Shortly after this incident, the Japanese official suddenly fell gravely ill and nearly died of this mysterious illness. People felt that this was a just punishment for disrespecting totem poles they regarded as the guardian of their village.

Although totem poles have become rare sights today, this was not the case up until the 1960's. A pair of totem poles used to stand near the entrance of most rural villages across Korea. Marking the boundary between villages or serving as milestone, totem poles were frequently worshipped as guardian deities.

In villages with totem poles, they often performed an annual rite in their honor. In Yongdu-ri Village in Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam, a totem pole rite is held still today, every year in the Lunar month of January.

The rite is held at Jangseung-geori, in other words, the road near the entrance of the village – also known as "Seonangdang" or "Norumok." Villagers place offerings on a make-shift altar set up under the totem poles and pray for the peace and prosperity of their village.

The custom has it that the rite is performed in front of newly-erected totem poles. Therefore, several days before the rite, villagers fell a tree to carve new totem poles.

Given the sacred nature of this project, villagers carefully select the tree. The tree they need is a pine with a long straight trunk, growing in an auspicious location.

As soon as the felled tree is hauled into the yard of the town hall, the work of crafting totem poles begins. Usually, a skilled carpenter or cabinet maker, if any lives in the village, is called upon to perform this task.

After removing the bark, the positions of the three sections of the totem, the head, face and the body, are decided. The head is carved first, starting with the rough outline.

Next, the artisan works on facial features by creating deeply sunken cheeks, a prominent triangularly-shaped nose and a mouth. For the body section, as it is mostly plain with too many details, the artisan simply smoothens and polishes the surface. Finally, using paint and brushes, the artisan adds an official’s hat at the top of the head and facial features like the eyes, nose and the ears, while also drawing a contour line around the face.

The male totem pole is given a beard, and the female totem pole a hairpin.

Totem poles across Korea, although generally quite similar to one another in appearance, also show slight differences in terms of facial features and expressions.

The totem poles of Yongdu-ri remind one of a good-hearted peasant couple.

The completed totem poles are now loaded onto an A-frame carrier to be transported to the village entrance. As the totem poles are hauled, festive tunes are played using flutes, drums and gongs.

Alerted by the sound of music, villagers flock to the carriers of the totem poles and escort them to the destination while dancing merrily.

At the entrance of the village, they sprinkle red clay around the totem pole site to ward off evil.

(Interview) We sprinkle this to drive away bad luck and evil spirits.

The newly-carved totem poles are now erected, with a large wooden dowel placed on the side to keep them securely in position. Finally, a ritualistic straw rope is wound several times around the totem poles.

Now that the totem poles are up and standing, it is time to begin the ritual. A villager laden with sacrificial offerings arrives to the site, followed by a band of musicians. The musicians perform uplifting tunes, which make villagers ecstatic. The day of the totem pole rite has always been a joyful day of celebration for the people of Yongdu-ri.

aaLibations are made to the totem poles. The officiant and the village representatives bow to the altar, and a prayer text is read.

Through this prayer, addressed to the male and female totem poles as well as the gods of the Five Elements, villagers implore them to bestow good luck upon the village.

At the end of the rite, the participants burn prayer sheets as a final gesture to ensure that their wishes are granted.

Demi-gods silently watching over a village, totem poles are an eminent symbol of constancy in a rapidly changing world.

Transience being a basic condition of human existence, people perceive sacredness in these enduring landmarks, going as far as believing in their power to bring good luck and protect them from misfortune.

In today's Korea, totem poles are cherished as nostalgic reminders of traditional rural communities and are protected as valuable cultural heritage items.