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A historical document on the facility of Koguryo in the period of Three Kingdoms recorded that Koguryo people used to build kudul and made a fire under it to keep them warm in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 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
March 15, 2026
The 13th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) was held on
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
March 15, 2026
Agricultural workers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) held a meeting in Jaeryong County on March
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
March 15, 2026
Joint meetings of working people’s organizations took place in Pyongyang and all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to vow to
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
March 15, 2026
Moving into new houses started in Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un recently attended the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 15, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
March 15, 2026
Recent years have witnessed a rapid progress in the DPRK’s agriculture.What is noteworthy is that vigorous efforts were made to co
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
March 15, 2026
One day in March 2021 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited a riverside area near Pothong Gate to examine the layout for a
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
March 15, 2026
A pair of ginkgo trees, female and male, grow halfway up Mt Naesong in the township of Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. The
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
March 14, 2026
Officials and members of the women’s union held a meeting at the plaza of the Monument to Party Founding on March 12 to vow to imp
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 14, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
March 14, 2026
The 15th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung was the first to kindle the flames of the movement for planting trees in the DPRK. Korea was
March 14, 2026
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung was the first to kindle the flames of the movement for planting trees in the DPRK. Korea was
One day in March 2022 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un climbed Mt Hwasong in the capital city of Pyongyang to plant trees
March 14, 2026
One day in March 2022 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un climbed Mt Hwasong in the capital city of Pyongyang to plant trees
Japan’s moves for reviving militarism, aimed at rearmament, are leading to a full-stage deployment of its preemptive attack
March 14, 2026
Japan’s moves for reviving militarism, aimed at rearmament, are leading to a full-stage deployment of its preemptive attack
Okryugum was invented by Koreans to retain the characteristics of national stringed instruments and meet modern aesthetic feelings
March 14, 2026
Okryugum was invented by Koreans to retain the characteristics of national stringed instruments and meet modern aesthetic feelings
A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House on March 12 to mark the 80th anniversary of the
March 14, 2026
A stamp exhibition opened with due ceremony at the Korean Stamp Exhibition House on March 12 to mark the 80th anniversary of the
The 2026 Spring Bowling Amateurs Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided
March 14, 2026
The 2026 Spring Bowling Amateurs Tournament took place at the Pyongyang Gold Lane from March 10 to 12. In the tournament, divided
The constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK have concluded the
March 13, 2026
The constituency committees for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK have concluded the
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took place at the Chollima Steel
March 13, 2026
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) took place at the Chollima Steel
More Articles
