Kudul (heated floor in Korean) is a national intangible cultural heritage of the DPRK.
The word was derived from kuundol, which means heated stone. It was also called ondol (warm stone).
In the course of using a brazier to keep themselves warm, the Korean ancestors understood that stones around the brazier preserved heat for a long time. Kudul was a facility of heating larger numbers of stones gradually by using this principle.
A historical document on the facility of Koguryo in the period of Three Kingdoms recorded that Koguryo people used to build kudul and made a fire under it to keep them warm in winter. Drawings of the facility can be seen on the walls of the Mausoleum of King Kogugwon and the tomb murals in Yaksu-ri.
During the period of Koryo (918-1392), the facility began to develop into two forms--a floor with flues under it and a stone-covered floor.
In the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910), all-floor-heating system pervaded the whole country.
The heated-floor system represents the creative wisdom and efforts of the Korean people to make rational use of heat and reflects their clean and civilized living manners.
The system makes it possible to control the temperature in a room evenly, keep the room warm for a long time without using any other fuel and prevent humidity and cold from the floor. For such advantages, it is widely used everywhere in the country.
Today, the Korean people not only set up the system in one-storey and multi-storey houses but also introduce other systems of heating the floor by means of hot water and electricity, thus preserving their traditional living customs of the nation.
More From Naenara (En)
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm under construction on January 2. All the young
January 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm under construction on January 2. All the young
The traditional taffy-making practice is on the DPRK’s national intangible cultural heritage list.Korean ancestors found out that
January 25, 2026
The traditional taffy-making practice is on the DPRK’s national intangible cultural heritage list.Korean ancestors found out that
The entire Party, all the people and the whole army are accelerating their revolutionary advance towards the historic Ninth
January 24, 2026
The entire Party, all the people and the whole army are accelerating their revolutionary advance towards the historic Ninth
New villages were wonderfully built at the Township Farm in Yonsan County and the Sonam Farm in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae
January 24, 2026
New villages were wonderfully built at the Township Farm in Yonsan County and the Sonam Farm in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in the speech at the New Year 2026 celebration that he will never exchange for anything
January 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in the speech at the New Year 2026 celebration that he will never exchange for anything
A solar power plant was newly built in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province, with the help of a technical team from the
January 24, 2026
A solar power plant was newly built in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province, with the help of a technical team from the
The 2026 National Schoolchildren’s Games opened with due ceremony at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon City on Janu
January 24, 2026
The 2026 National Schoolchildren’s Games opened with due ceremony at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon City on Janu
The area of Yombunjin renowned as a scenic spot on the east coast of the DPRK is presenting new scenery of regional development.
January 24, 2026
The area of Yombunjin renowned as a scenic spot on the east coast of the DPRK is presenting new scenery of regional development.
in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK was established in the later period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and rebuilt
January 24, 2026
in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK was established in the later period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and rebuilt
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
January 23, 2026
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
January 23, 2026
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses have been built in Soje-ri of
January 23, 2026
Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses have been built in Soje-ri of
Koryo paper takes an important place in Korean culture. Several kinds of paper were produced in the period of the Koryo dynasty
January 23, 2026
Koryo paper takes an important place in Korean culture. Several kinds of paper were produced in the period of the Koryo dynasty
The Mt Paektu area located in the northernmost part of the DPRK is abundant in tourist resources. The area unfolds distinctive
January 23, 2026
The Mt Paektu area located in the northernmost part of the DPRK is abundant in tourist resources. The area unfolds distinctive
In recent years new rural houses have been mushrooming across the DPRK–from the remote mountain villages in the northern areas
January 22, 2026
In recent years new rural houses have been mushrooming across the DPRK–from the remote mountain villages in the northern areas
One night in June 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Taedonggang Fish Restaurant built on the banks of
January 22, 2026
One night in June 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Taedonggang Fish Restaurant built on the banks of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in the DPRK. The catalyst production base is
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in the DPRK. The catalyst production base is
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) in his teens embarked on a 250-mile journey with a resolve to win back Korea’s
January 22, 2026
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) in his teens embarked on a 250-mile journey with a resolve to win back Korea’s
Mountainous villages in Jagang Province of the DPRK are turning into fairyland ones. There took place house-moving in Puji-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountainous villages in Jagang Province of the DPRK are turning into fairyland ones. There took place house-moving in Puji-ri of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in his speech at the event to celebrate the New Year 2026 that he would never exchange for
January 21, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in his speech at the event to celebrate the New Year 2026 that he would never exchange for
More Articles
