Nowadays folklore tourism is gaining momentum. With regard to this, a staff reporter had an interview with Kim Ok Yong, dean of the Tourism Management Faculty of Pyongyang College of Tourism.

Reporter: Now many countries and regions are encouraging folklore tourism that visually shows their unique culture and traditions, aren’t they?

Kim Ok Yong: Certainly. At present, tourist attractions in the countries which draw many tourists are mostly in the areas with globally recognized cultural heritage sites.

In our country, too, the custom of making kimchi which was inscribed on the world intangible cultural heritage list, the custom of traditional attire and other diverse customs created by its people are extensively used as folklore tourist resources.

Reporter: I would like to know more about folklore tourism.

Kim Ok Yong: Our country has rich folklore tourism resources which reflect the creative wisdom and resourcefulness of our people.

They include traditional customs of working life, dietary life, attire, family life, folk holidays and folk games, manners and etiquette, and folk music and dance.

In particular, Taekwon-Do associated with the wisdom and spirit of our people serves as a major object of folklore tourism because it shows their tradition of attaching importance to military affairs.

Folklore tourism helps tourists have a deeper understanding and firsthand experience with the help of local inhabitants while living with them.

For example, there are many famous scenic spots, natural monuments and historical sites and relics in the Kaesong area. No word or writing can give a sufficient description of the method of making possam (wrapped-up) kimchi, a speciality of the area, and its nutritional value. While touring Kaesong, tourists can have an in-depth understanding of the origin of wrapped-up kimchi and other kinds of kimchi and the methods of making them, variety of seasonings used in making them and their nutritional value with the help of the local people.

In addition, folklore tourism is a tourist activity of high economic effectiveness as it is immune to seasonal change.

In general, folk holidays and games and custom of dietary life differ from season to season.

Therefore, folklore tourism is not influenced by seasonal change.

In particular, the national ssirum (Korean wrestling) contest for grand bull prize taking place with splendour on the occasion of Chusok , a folk holiday in autumn, swinging, seesawing and yut (four-stick) game draw special attention of tourists.

Reporter: Thank you.

Ko Chol Hwa