The Saja Boys! Aka 저승사자 Jeoseung saja

In Netflix's recent release, K-Pop Demon Hunters, there are a lot of layers brought in by the creators to connect it to our culture and beliefs. One of which, 저승사자 jeoseungsaja, I can include in our "God Index".

저승사자 Jeoseungsaja are a "grim reaper" spirit. In antiquity, the word was actually 자사 jasa, but over time was flipped into 사자 saja. Which is why there is connection between the term saja and lions, as lion in Korean is "사자 saja" as well.

You will find many variables of belief surrounding 저승사자 jeoseungsaja for us. Some are clearly adapted from Buddhist and Taoist beliefs and practices. I will be focusing on what I learned as well as what I was shown by my own experiences in this post.

저승사자 Jeoseungsaja typically come as a single entity or a group of three when you die. The "best" death one could have is a "natural death in the home". A place you know and are comforted in, and a death is considered natural when it is from old age.

When the grim reapers come to collect your soul, one holds the birth details to call your name, another has your death details to call your name, and one calls your name the final third time in order to collect your soul. Some may remember in Along With the Gods (movies 1 & 2) where the house gods 가신 Gashin, were able to keep the grim reaper from collecting the soul - this is because on a deity hierarchy level, house gods actually have more power than the underworld deity, as the house gods are tied to the physical world of this earth. The house is their domain, they rule it. But the house gods can't deny too long due to the natural order. So the soul usually is collected without a ton of issues - especially if one's house gods aren't "awake"/eg actively worshiped.

Our grim reapers are not Gods of Death - they are messengers and collectors. In the worlds of Korean Gods, those associated with death are many. Each has their own roles and tasks. The Kings of the Underworld rule over all their areas of the underworld. 저승사자 Jeoseungsaja are under their domain.

Those of you gifted with the Sight may occasionally catch glimpses of them wandering close by those they're meant to collect very soon - such as in hospitals.