Among the cultural heritage of Korean nation is ssirum.
Since olden times, Koreans enjoyed playing the game on the edges of fields, in the grass, and on the sand at the riverside or seaside during breaks in labour.
A mural painting from the period of Koguryo (277 BC - 668 AD) portrays true-to-life two men, wearing shorts and thigh bands, holding each other’s thigh band and displaying their strength.
What is peculiar in ssirum is the use of thigh band unlike wrestling in other nations.
One is declared a loser if any part of his body above his ankles touches the land first.
The folk game, which has developed for over 1 000 years, is flourishing and developing while sustaining its peculiarity as a characteristic national sport well-preserved under the national heritage protection policy of the state.
It is one of the most popular events in various competitions held on the national and regional level, including the National Inter-provincial Games.
It was inscribed on the list of national intangible cultural heritage on November 26 2013, and on the list of world intangible cultural heritage in November 2018.
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