Over the past ten-odd years, the folklore section of the national heritage institute under the History Faculty of Kim Il Sung University has had 14 items put on the national intangible cultural heritage list.
Researcher Jo Jong Won was awarded a special diploma at the intangible cultural heritage exhibition-2025 in recognition of his distinguished role in discovering and verifying eight outstanding ICH items including the Korean greeting etiquette.
Asked what made him take up the work, Jo said that through the research activities he came to realize that the work to register ICH items is a patriotic undertaking for preserving and glorifying the national history and traditions, beyond protecting the heritage created by the ancestors.
The ICH registration work involves time-consuming tasks of tracing the origin of relevant cultural heritage, defining its concept and verifying it in an academic way.
When Jo started out, ICH was drawing little interest among the people as it is intangible. However, it was something important to protect and develop the excellent culture and traditions of the nation and so it must be done.
Jo and his colleagues made painstaking efforts to collect old documents and historical records, and toured around the country to have a better understanding of the relevant data. In the course of this, they discovered and collected such national ICH items as the greeting etiquette, customs of marriage, underfloor heating and moving into a new house, and sleighing as a folk game.
Yon Ok
More From Naenara (En)
A granite tower built in the early period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) stands in Haeju City, South Hwanghae Province. The tower
May 13, 2026
A granite tower built in the early period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) stands in Haeju City, South Hwanghae Province. The tower
From olden times Koreans have extensively used spas containing sulphur and salts in promoting their health and preventing and
May 13, 2026
From olden times Koreans have extensively used spas containing sulphur and salts in promoting their health and preventing and
The botanical institute of the State Academy of Sciences in the DPRK has recently established a red oak cultivation technique that
May 13, 2026
The botanical institute of the State Academy of Sciences in the DPRK has recently established a red oak cultivation technique that
A South Phyongan provincial friendship delegation of the DPRK led by Ri Song Bom, chairman of the South Phyongan Provincial
May 13, 2026
A South Phyongan provincial friendship delegation of the DPRK led by Ri Song Bom, chairman of the South Phyongan Provincial
The quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup were held between DPRK and Thai teams on May 11.The DPRK team succeeded i
May 13, 2026
The quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup were held between DPRK and Thai teams on May 11.The DPRK team succeeded i
Last year, a man who sustained multiple injuries in an accident was admitted to Pyongyang University of Medical Sciences Hospital.
May 12, 2026
Last year, a man who sustained multiple injuries in an accident was admitted to Pyongyang University of Medical Sciences Hospital.
One day in July 2024, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un convened the 22nd emergency enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of
May 11, 2026
One day in July 2024, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un convened the 22nd emergency enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of
Established on November 10, 1945, the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex is a leading rolling stock producer and a parent
May 11, 2026
Established on November 10, 1945, the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex is a leading rolling stock producer and a parent
A military parade was held at Red Square in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Great
May 11, 2026
A military parade was held at Red Square in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Great
The Eighth Congress of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea is to be held in Pyongyang in mid-July 2026. The 15th Plenary
May 10, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea is to be held in Pyongyang in mid-July 2026. The 15th Plenary
The Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factory has been remodelled in Jangphung County, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK. Its
May 10, 2026
The Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factory has been remodelled in Jangphung County, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK. Its
The 2026 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup is under way in China.The DPRK team belonging to Group C beat the Chinese Taipei team 10-0 and
May 10, 2026
The 2026 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup is under way in China.The DPRK team belonging to Group C beat the Chinese Taipei team 10-0 and
The State Hydro-meteorological Administration has released a road version of the weather information app Nalssi . This system
May 10, 2026
The State Hydro-meteorological Administration has released a road version of the weather information app Nalssi . This system
Inaugurated in February, the 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area form another large architectural group which is
May 10, 2026
Inaugurated in February, the 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area form another large architectural group which is
One day in April 2025, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the near-to-inauguration third-stage district in the Hwasong area
May 09, 2026
One day in April 2025, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the near-to-inauguration third-stage district in the Hwasong area
Recently, UN human rights pundits expressed deep concern over the Japanese authorities’ move to strip the “comfort women” of
May 09, 2026
Recently, UN human rights pundits expressed deep concern over the Japanese authorities’ move to strip the “comfort women” of
May 9 is World Migratory Birds Day. Migratory birds fly through different countries and regions according to seasons, and they are
May 09, 2026
May 9 is World Migratory Birds Day. Migratory birds fly through different countries and regions according to seasons, and they are
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a message of greeting to Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian
May 09, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a message of greeting to Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian
A congratulatory group of the Association of Young Korean Nationals in China led by Chairwoman Kim Song Mi visited Mangyongdae, a
May 08, 2026
A congratulatory group of the Association of Young Korean Nationals in China led by Chairwoman Kim Song Mi visited Mangyongdae, a
The spring aesthetic symposium in the field of land and environment protection-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in the DPRK
May 08, 2026
The spring aesthetic symposium in the field of land and environment protection-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in the DPRK
More Articles
