The Korean people like to eat boiled rice wrapped in such leaves as lettuce, leopard plant, cabbage, beans, perilla, pumpkin, etc. It is a dietary custom peculiar to them, which has been carried forward through generations.
In the period of Koguryo (277 B.C.-A.D. 668), lettuce was cultivated as a vegetable and widely known even to the neigbouring countries.
According to the records of Haedongyoksa , an envoy of a neigbouring country bought lettuce seed during his visit to Koguryo and called it “Chongumchae” as he paid a high price for it.
Lettuce was so famous even in the period of Koryo that a poet of the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) wrote that the Koryo people ate boiled rice wrapped in lettuce, an excellent vegetable.
From olden times, the Koreans liked eating purussam (lettuce-wrapped rice) in early summer when one would lose appetite. They planted lots of lettuce in their fields, saying that purussam helps relieving the heat in summer.
The Korean people paid special attention to soybean paste when eating purussam .
According to information, soybean paste for purussam was prepared by adding well-minced beef or fish flesh and a bit of onion to it and frying it in oil.
Some locals used bean or pumpkin leaves for wrapping boiled rice.
The food was not only for summer.
The Koreans used aster and other wild vegetables in spring. In winter, on Jongwoldaeborum (the fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar) in particular, they used laver, calling it pokssam or myongssam .
They ate pokssam on Jongwoldaeborum out of their desire to enjoy good luck that year.
More From Naenara (En)
Many rural communities in the DPRK are pushing ahead with the preparations for raising fish in paddy fields on a large scale next
December 24, 2025
Many rural communities in the DPRK are pushing ahead with the preparations for raising fish in paddy fields on a large scale next
The Taean Friendship Glass Factory has newly established a light-reflective glass ball production line. This kind of glass ball is
December 24, 2025
The Taean Friendship Glass Factory has newly established a light-reflective glass ball production line. This kind of glass ball is
A permanent magnet synchronous motor for elevator has recently been developed by researchers at Kim Chaek University of
December 24, 2025
A permanent magnet synchronous motor for elevator has recently been developed by researchers at Kim Chaek University of
The inauguration ceremony of the Kusong City Hospital in North Phyongan Province was held on December 13. The hospital is an
December 24, 2025
The inauguration ceremony of the Kusong City Hospital in North Phyongan Province was held on December 13. The hospital is an
New houses have appeared at the Wonjon Livestock Farm under the South Hamgyong Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the Sangok
December 24, 2025
New houses have appeared at the Wonjon Livestock Farm under the South Hamgyong Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the Sangok
A few months ago the Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items-2025 was held at the foot of Moran Hill in Pyongyang, the
December 24, 2025
A few months ago the Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items-2025 was held at the foot of Moran Hill in Pyongyang, the
The vast fields in South Hwanghae Province of the DPRK are taking on new appearances of Korean-style rural civilization. Modern
December 23, 2025
The vast fields in South Hwanghae Province of the DPRK are taking on new appearances of Korean-style rural civilization. Modern
On December 20, the director of the Institute for Studies of Japan under the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following press
December 22, 2025
On December 20, the director of the Institute for Studies of Japan under the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following press
Modern regional-industry factories have been built in Kim Jong Suk County, a historic place full of the pleasure of enjoying a new
December 22, 2025
Modern regional-industry factories have been built in Kim Jong Suk County, a historic place full of the pleasure of enjoying a new
Regional-industry factories have been inaugurated with splendid ceremony in Koksan County, North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK,
December 22, 2025
Regional-industry factories have been inaugurated with splendid ceremony in Koksan County, North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK,
New houses have been built in Songhan-dong and Sonsang-dong of Sinuiju City, North Phyongan Province, and Sanbuk-ri of Suan
December 22, 2025
New houses have been built in Songhan-dong and Sonsang-dong of Sinuiju City, North Phyongan Province, and Sanbuk-ri of Suan
In Sepho County of Kangwon Province, too, modern regional-industry factories have been built as another asset of prosperity to
December 22, 2025
In Sepho County of Kangwon Province, too, modern regional-industry factories have been built as another asset of prosperity to
The great Workers’ Party of Korea is translating the centuries-old desire of all the people into reality by building entities of
December 22, 2025
The great Workers’ Party of Korea is translating the centuries-old desire of all the people into reality by building entities of
The Advanced Science and Technology and Products Exhibition-2025 took place at the Grand People’s Study House in the heart of
December 21, 2025
The Advanced Science and Technology and Products Exhibition-2025 took place at the Grand People’s Study House in the heart of
New houses have been built at the Ujung and Phyongsang farms in Usi County and the Wolmyong Farm in Kophung County, Jagang
December 21, 2025
New houses have been built at the Ujung and Phyongsang farms in Usi County and the Wolmyong Farm in Kophung County, Jagang
Modern houses of diverse and unique styles have been built in Yonggo-ri of Sinhung County and Pulgunbyol-ri of Hamju County, South
December 20, 2025
Modern houses of diverse and unique styles have been built in Yonggo-ri of Sinhung County and Pulgunbyol-ri of Hamju County, South
As the whole country is filled with great emotion and joy in the new era of regional transformation and prosperity ushered in by
December 20, 2025
As the whole country is filled with great emotion and joy in the new era of regional transformation and prosperity ushered in by
Thanks to the energetic leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea dynamically opening up a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation
December 20, 2025
Thanks to the energetic leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea dynamically opening up a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation
Splendid inauguration ceremonies of regional-industry factories are taking place in the DPRK almost every day, adorning the
December 20, 2025
Splendid inauguration ceremonies of regional-industry factories are taking place in the DPRK almost every day, adorning the
All the people across the DPRK honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th
December 19, 2025
All the people across the DPRK honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th
More Articles
