Among the folk games of the Korean nation is yut game that showcases the wisdom and talents of the Korean people and reflects their recreational needs.
It is a recreational game in which players try to be the first to make all their pieces move around a board from hole to hole according to the total points made by a cast of four sticks.
It emerged by reflecting principles of natural and social phenomena in ancient times.
According to old books, the yut board consists of 29 holes, the central hole representing the Pole Star and the surrounding 28 holes meaning constellations around the ecliptic. The courses on the square board reflect the change of four seasons, that is, the shortest one involving 11 holes is tongji (winter solstice), those on diagonal lines are chunbun (vernal equinox) and chubun (autumnal equinox), and the longest one along the four sides of the board is haji (summer solstice). And the four sticks indicate cardinal points.
The name of the points reflected ancient official posts, namely joga , kuga , uga and maga , as well as the size and running rate of domestic animals which were widely bred at that time.
For example, to means swine worth one point, kae dog worth two points, kol sheep worth three points, yut or ssyung cattle worth four points, and mo horse worth five points. The cattle were instrumental in farming, hence the name of the game.
The game traced to the ancient times has been inherited onward.
The popularity of the yut game can be evidenced by a pattern similar to the yut board drawn on the chest of a figure carved on a rock in a tomb area in the period of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668), and the two floor stones engraved with a yut board in the period of Koryo (918–1392) which were unearthed at Manwoltae in Kaesong City. The discovery of the yut board at the site of the royal palace clearly shows how popular the game was in that time.
The folk game, part of the national cultural heritage, is still widely played by the Korean people.
Im Sung Bin, associate professor, PhD and section chief of the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences
More From Naenara (En)
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
In December last year several modern hotels were inaugurated with due ceremonies in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province of
January 21, 2026
In December last year several modern hotels were inaugurated with due ceremonies in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province of
One day in December 2013, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Masikryong Ski Resort newly built in Kangwon Province. He
January 21, 2026
One day in December 2013, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Masikryong Ski Resort newly built in Kangwon Province. He
More Articles
