February 24 is Jongwoldaeborum , the fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar. From olden times, the Korean ancestors have significantly celebrated it as a folk holiday next to lunar New Year’s Day.
Typical foods for the day are ogokbap and dishes made of nine species of dried greens.
Ogokbap is boiled rice mixed with four other cereals. The five cereals included rice, foxtail millet, sorghum, bean and red bean but sometimes they varied according to regions.
Dishes for the day are made of nine species of dried greens.
The nine species of dried greens did not indicate certain species but meant “a variety of” or “many” greens in connection with the number “nine.”
The locals in the Pyongyang area were fond of eating dried red pepper leaves, bracken, fern and goosefoot, which were called “black greens” as they were black.
Those in Hamgyong Province used dried platycodon, longleaf asiabell, aster and seaweed, and those in Kangwon Province, dried pumpkin and sliced radish and mushrooms.
People have said that dishes made of nine species of dried greens eaten on the day enable them to be resistant to summer heat and spend the year in good health.
The custom of taking such rice and dishes on the day is associated with strong pioneer spirit of the Korean people who created their own way of dietary life and food culture by making use of various materials available in their own localities as well as their love of the native land.
It reflects the habit of thrifty economic life of the Koreans who secured in advance dried vegetables, edible herbs and seaweeds and used them effectively in winter according to the climatic conditions of the country and their spirit of saving even a single material without any waste.
It also comprises the idea of a civilized regimen that they can live in good health only when they take ogokbap and various species of dried greens evenly, just as they can take in various nutrients only when they have a balanced diet, eating various foods.
The custom is still being carried forward, adding national flavour to the life of the Korean people.
Kim Jin Guk, researcher at the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences
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
