You may not know it, but if we asked you to name some Traditional Korean Games, you probably wouldn’t have a problem naming a few. Some of these traditional Korean games have been widely featured on Korean variety shows.
Here are some traditional Korean games you can play at home or should check out when you’re in Korea!
Traditional Games of Korea
Yutnori 윷놀이
One of the most popular Korean traditional games is Yut-nori, commonly seen on Korean variety shows, especially during the Lunar New Year episodes.
How To Play Yutnori
The goal of Yutnori is to move your pieces around the board, and the first person or team to do so, wins the game.
There are a total of 4 yut sticks, each with a round and flat side. When thrown, these yut sticks make a total of 5 different combinations – Do, Gae, Geul, Yut and Mo.
You can purchase the Yutnori board game on Shopee, perfect for your next board game night.
Ssireum 씨름
Ssireum is a form of wrestling that is unique to Korea.
The players have a belt (known as satba) wrapped around their waist and thighs. The goal of the sport is to prevent yourself from falling down while forcing your opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body, from knee-level and higher.
There’s even a Ssireum World Championship, where wrestlers from all over the world come to compete.
Gonggi-nori 공기놀이
At first glance, Gonggi-nori would remind you of five stones, an old-school game played in Singapore.
In Korea, the game is played using small pebbles of coloured plastic stones. The rules are similar to five stones, and at the end, you have to throw all the stones in the air and catch all five with the back of your palm.
Some versions include clapping of hands while the stones are in the air, followed by the catching of the stones.
Tuho-nori 투호놀이
Tuhonori is a game with a rich history, played during the Three Kingdoms Period all the way to the late Joseon dynasty.
The game is super easy, you simply need to aim and try to land the arrow in the hole, typically a wooden jar or cylinder. The player with the most arrows in the jar wins!
You can experience Tuho-nori in Korea by visiting the Korean Folk Village in Yongin.
Jegichagi 제기차기
If you’ve ever played Chapteh as a child, Jegi-chagi should be a familiar game for you. The game is played using a jegi, which is traditionally made using paper and coins.
The goal is to kick the jegi as many times as possible without letting it drop to the ground. The one with the most kicks wins.
Ddakji 딱지
Here’s something you can play at home! Ddakji, or ttakji, is a game played using folded tiles that one can easily make at home. This was featured in the highly popular Korean drama, Squid Game.
Once you have your paper tiles, players must try to flip other players’ paper tiles by slamming or throwing their own paper tiles.
Kite Flying 연날리기
Also known as Yeonnalligi, Korean kite flying is usually done on Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year. Koreans also often fly kites on the day of the lunar year’s first full moon.
The traditional Korean kite, known as Yeon, is made using bamboo pieces in a rectangular shape. Some like to write their wishes on the kite and fly it, there’s also a practice where people cut off the strings of their kites to drive away bad luck and bring in good luck instead.
Traditional Korean Games To Check Out
What are some traditional Korean games you’ve come to know through Korean variety shows? Some of these games are a great way to spend time with your family and your kids. You’ll not only get to have fun but experience a piece of Korean culture as well.
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