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)
Youth and students had a gala evening at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on the evening of December 31, 2025 on the occasion of
January 02, 2026
Youth and students had a gala evening at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on the evening of December 31, 2025 on the occasion of
The Cholryong Tile Factory and the Wonsan Building-materials Factory have been built in Kangwon Province of the DPRK. The
January 02, 2026
The Cholryong Tile Factory and the Wonsan Building-materials Factory have been built in Kangwon Province of the DPRK. The
The Togam Farm of the Kaesong Municipal Rural Economic Committee in the DPRK has been renovated under the far-reaching plan of the
January 02, 2026
The Togam Farm of the Kaesong Municipal Rural Economic Committee in the DPRK has been renovated under the far-reaching plan of the
Modern hospitals, built in Kangdong County of Pyongyang Municipality and Kusong City of North Phyongan Province under the Workers'
January 02, 2026
Modern hospitals, built in Kangdong County of Pyongyang Municipality and Kusong City of North Phyongan Province under the Workers'
The hopeful New Year 2026 has come, encouraging all the people of the DPRK to turn out in the vigorous advance towards a new great
January 02, 2026
The hopeful New Year 2026 has come, encouraging all the people of the DPRK to turn out in the vigorous advance towards a new great
Modern houses have sprung up at Kujang and Muan farms in Tokchon City and the Sampha Farm in Sinyang County, South Phyongan
January 02, 2026
Modern houses have sprung up at Kujang and Muan farms in Tokchon City and the Sampha Farm in Sinyang County, South Phyongan
The sci-tech sector has made notable achievements conducive to the economic development of the country and the improvement of the
January 02, 2026
The sci-tech sector has made notable achievements conducive to the economic development of the country and the improvement of the
The Autumn Sports Contest of Aged People was held at the Taekwon-Do Palace in the capital city of Pyongyang in October 2025. What
January 02, 2026
The Autumn Sports Contest of Aged People was held at the Taekwon-Do Palace in the capital city of Pyongyang in October 2025. What
The New Year 2026 has dawned. The Editorial Board extends warm greetings to you who have got familiar with our website. The
January 01, 2026
The New Year 2026 has dawned. The Editorial Board extends warm greetings to you who have got familiar with our website. The
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to the officers and soldiers of the overseas operations units on D
January 01, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to the officers and soldiers of the overseas operations units on D
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
January 01, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to Ho Jong Man, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the
January 01, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to Ho Jong Man, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the
A dance party of women’s union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on December 30 to c
January 01, 2026
A dance party of women’s union officials and members was held at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang on December 30 to c
Agricultural workers of the Wolji Farm in Anak County and the Churung Farm in Samchon County, South Hwanghae Province of the DPRK,
January 01, 2026
Agricultural workers of the Wolji Farm in Anak County and the Churung Farm in Samchon County, South Hwanghae Province of the DPRK,
Dance parties of youth and students took place across the DPRK on December 30 to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the respected
January 01, 2026
Dance parties of youth and students took place across the DPRK on December 30 to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the respected
A well-regulated nationwide system is in place in the DPRK for producing and supplying school uniforms and assessing their
December 31, 2025
A well-regulated nationwide system is in place in the DPRK for producing and supplying school uniforms and assessing their
The artistic motivational team of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea performed at the Academy of
December 31, 2025
The artistic motivational team of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea performed at the Academy of
Top ten IT model units of 2025 have been selected. Those selected are the Chollima Tile Factory, Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory,
December 31, 2025
Top ten IT model units of 2025 have been selected. Those selected are the Chollima Tile Factory, Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory,
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea took place at the Central Hall of Workers on
December 31, 2025
A meeting of workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea took place at the Central Hall of Workers on
The recent 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea reviewed the implementation of
December 31, 2025
The recent 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea reviewed the implementation of
More Articles
