Nov. 24, 2024 Sunday  
Rodong Sinmun
Korean Wrestling--Ssirum

Culture 2024.6.28.


Among the cultural heritages of the Korean nation is ssirum (Korean wrestling). It is a folk sport in which two persons struggle with thigh bands to throw each other to the ground by grappling.

From old times, our people have frequently held public ssirum matches at recess of labor; in particular, big ssirum matches on folk holidays.

There are pictures depicting ssirum in the mural paintings of tombs dating back to Koguryo Kingdom (B.C. 277 - A.D. 668).

Ssirum with a long history helps people foster their endurance and increase their strength as well as wisdom, and contributes to promoting harmony and unity among the people.

When the ssirum matches have taken place, men and women of all ages have gathered to cheer players of the matches enthusiastically--this has been also a peculiar spectacle in the exciting ssirum matches.

Thanks to the policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea on national heritage preservation, ssirum is being popularized in our country.

Rodong Sinmun