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 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
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
All the people in the DPRK greeted December with ardent yearning for Chairman Kim Jong Il who devoted his noble life to
December 19, 2025
All the people in the DPRK greeted December with ardent yearning for Chairman Kim Jong Il who devoted his noble life to
DPRK players returned home on December 16 after taking part in the 5th Asian Youth Para Games held in the United Arab Emirates.
December 18, 2025
DPRK players returned home on December 16 after taking part in the 5th Asian Youth Para Games held in the United Arab Emirates.
Thanks to the ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea, stirring events demonstrating the
December 18, 2025
Thanks to the ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea, stirring events demonstrating the
Officials and members of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea (SWUK) held a meeting at the Hall of Women on December 16 to hear
December 18, 2025
Officials and members of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea (SWUK) held a meeting at the Hall of Women on December 16 to hear
DPRK schoolchildren met at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 16 to tell stories about the great leader Generalis
December 18, 2025
DPRK schoolchildren met at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 16 to tell stories about the great leader Generalis
Officials of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) and agricultural workers held a meeting to hear about the noble
December 18, 2025
Officials of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) and agricultural workers held a meeting to hear about the noble
Chilsong Restaurant located at the foot of picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang draws many visitors. As one of the established
December 18, 2025
Chilsong Restaurant located at the foot of picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang draws many visitors. As one of the established
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) met at the Central Hall of Workers on December 15
December 17, 2025
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) met at the Central Hall of Workers on December 15
Youth and students met at the Central Youth Hall on December 15 to tell stories about the noble virtues of Chairman Kim Jong Il on
December 17, 2025
Youth and students met at the Central Youth Hall on December 15 to tell stories about the noble virtues of Chairman Kim Jong Il on
Preserved in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il (February 16, 1942–December 17, 2011)
December 17, 2025
Preserved in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il (February 16, 1942–December 17, 2011)
Rangnim County of the DPRK has greeted the moment of celebrating the inauguration of regional-industry factories built under the
December 17, 2025
Rangnim County of the DPRK has greeted the moment of celebrating the inauguration of regional-industry factories built under the
Modern regional-industry factories have appeared in Taegwan County, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, adorning more brilliantly
December 17, 2025
Modern regional-industry factories have appeared in Taegwan County, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, adorning more brilliantly
Regional-industry factories have been built in inland mountainous Sinyang County of the DPRK to fundamentally improve the quality
December 17, 2025
Regional-industry factories have been built in inland mountainous Sinyang County of the DPRK to fundamentally improve the quality
Along with the second inauguration season in implementing the regional development policy confidently promoted by the great
December 17, 2025
Along with the second inauguration season in implementing the regional development policy confidently promoted by the great
More Articles
