This paper is an introduction to the musical characteristics of the Korean Shamanic Songs. Although there are many kinds of shamanic ritual muisic in Korea, most important musically are the songs sung by the shaman(mudang). The musical styles of the Koran ritual Songs differ from region to region, and depend upon the functions of the songs within a ritual. However, most ritual Songs are accompaned by some instruments. The shaman may sing sitting and accompanying him-or herself on the changgo(hour-glass drum); hower, the shaman in most cases stands and sings while the accompanists play the instruments. The accompanying instruments used in the Korean shamanic rituals consist of a changgo(hour-glass drum) and a ching(gong), but a taekeum, a piri and haekeum are added in case of the rituals of mid and the southwestern regions. The role of the percussionists is to sing with the shaman in ca｀ll-and-response, while a｀ccompanying him or her or to add vocables to the shaman's song in polyphonic style. The melodic instruments may be performed in unison, but they tend to be performed in polyphony. Most Korean shamainc songs are in triple meter; however, songs in mixed meter are not uncommon, especially those of the eastern regions, few Korean shamanic songs are in duple meter; nonetheless, the southwest regions preserve some, Turning to the melodic mode of the Korean shamanic songs. The mode of the shamanic songs of the eastern regions consists of (e), (g), (a), (c), and (d), in which (e), (a｀), and (c) are the important tones. Most shamanic songs in this area ends on (a) or (e). The melodic style of the ritual songs of the southwest regions is similar to that of the eastern regions, but the mode consists of (e), (g), (a), (b), (c), and (d), in which (e), (a｀), and (b), are the important tones, and the songs end on (a｀). In case of the northwestern regions, the mode of the shamanic songs consists of (d), (e) (g) (a), and (c), in which (d), (a), and (c) are important, and the songs end on (d) or on (a). Finally, the melodic mode of the shamanic songs the midwest areas consists of (g), (a), (c), (d), and (e), and the songs end on (g), or (c).