News

Jo Apr 19, 2022

See-saw is one of the folk games enjoyed by the Korean people.

There exist several arguments for the origin of see-saw. Some historians claim that it originated from a woman who went on the see-saw outside the wall of the prison to see her imprisoned husband in the period of the Koryo Dynasty while some others believe that it started from the women’s practice of looking over the fence on a piece of board in the yard as a sign of resistance to feudal restraints. It is also said to be derived from the principle of a treadmill used for pounding cereal in the past.

See-saw used to be done mostly on the Lunar New Year’s Day and Jongwoldaeborum (January 15 by the lunar calendar). That was because it was appropriate time for people to enjoy themselves breathing in as much fresh air as they wanted in the currents of warm spring air after the long period of the severe cold striking from morning to evening.

It was so good for women’s health and life that there went an old saying, “A see-saw in January keeps pricks away from soles that year.”

As it is easy and can be played everywhere, middle-aged women as well as young girls can train themselves jumping up and down merrily. In addition, it is in accordance with active and optimistic Korean women’s sentiments of life.

Thanks to the policy of the national heritage conservation of our Party and state, see-saw, the Korean folk game, is still encouraged as the one enjoyed by our women and as one of the national sporting events.