Tug of war is one of the folk games the Korean people have played since olden times.
It is introduced in old records including Tongguksesigi (book dealing with folk customs of Korea which was written in the first half of the 19th century) and Tonggukyojisungnam (geography book in the middle ages of Korea which was compiled in 1481).
The folk game was usually played on the fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar, or on Chusok (the fifteenth day of the eighth month by the lunar calendar) according to regions.
According to the specific features of local areas, the rope was mainly made by twisting rice straw or arrowroot vines in those days, and it is said that the thickness and length of the original cord were decided by the scale of the match.
Since the original cord was too thick to be pulled by contestants, two or three metres of thin cords were connected at intervals of about one metre. They were called tongjjul.
According to Kim Son Yong, researcher at the Folklore Research Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences, children aged 12 to 13, divided into two teams, played tug of war game at first, which was called aegijuldanggigi, or pulling a thin rope, followed by the match of adults. On the morning of the contest day, the venue was packed with crowds from different villages.
The game is usually over in 20 to 30 minutes, and it was a custom that the winning team returned home and made a round of their village, carrying the rope on their shoulders and playing farm music, to demonstrate their power.
Though there are some differences in its scale and form, tug of war is one of the popular games enjoyed by all even today.
In the present-day tug of war match, scientific numerical values are introduced to maximize tensile strength, especially players’ posture, tensile angle and frictional force.
“The victory of the game hinges on how to concentrate the strength of players to the maximum,” said Ri Pyong Hun, researcher of the Sports Science Institute. “A number of technical factors exist, but the most important thing is the unity of collective. Therefore, tug of war is the most favourite one among the sports games of any class.”
More From Pyongyang Times
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
March 19, 2026
The Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took place in Beijing
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
March 19, 2026
Vladimir Topeha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, hosted a reception at the Taedonggang
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
March 19, 2026
According to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's grand plan for capital city construction and under his energetic guidance, the
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
March 19, 2026
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Hamgyong Province have volunteered for forefront border military
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
March 19, 2026
The people-first politics administered by the Workers’ Party of Korea is a political mode of solving all problems in complete
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
March 19, 2026
The Samgwang Livestock Farm in Unjon County of North Phyongan Province can be claimed to be a combined enterprise in which animal
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
March 18, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea is constantly increasing its policies for the people to promote their wellbeing and realize their
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
March 18, 2026
The Russian permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on March 12 disclosed and denounc
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
March 18, 2026
Former Taekwon-Do star becomes competent coach Sa Ok Jin, a coach of the Ryongaksan Taekwon-Do Team, was selected as one of top
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
March 18, 2026
Officials and workers in the metallurgical industry of the DPRK are making innovations while taking development-oriented measures
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
March 18, 2026
Final-year students of senior middle schools in South Phyongan Province have volunteered for military service in the forefront
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 17, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
March 17, 2026
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The SPA
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
March 17, 2026
Senior Party and government officials went to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election of
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22 2026. The session
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at all the constituencies across the country
March 16, 2026
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK took place at all the constituencies across the country
Dear voters,Workers and officials of the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine, who are working with devotion for the country’s prosperity at a
March 16, 2026
Dear voters,Workers and officials of the Chonsong Youth Coal Mine, who are working with devotion for the country’s prosperity at a
Tree planting was conducted across the country on the occasion of Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission,
March 16, 2026
Tree planting was conducted across the country on the occasion of Tree-planting Day. Officials of the State Planning Commission,
Working people’s organizations planted trees on the occasion of Tree-planting Day.Officials of the central committee of the youth
March 16, 2026
Working people’s organizations planted trees on the occasion of Tree-planting Day.Officials of the central committee of the youth
More Articles
