Characteristics of Korean Folk Games

First of all, the content and method of folk games are sound and cultured. This is because the Korean folk games reflect the noble and civilized life and sound and optimistic way of life of Korean nation which entered the era of civilization in its early years. That the content and method of folk games are sound and cultured, means that most of them are composed of those that help children to train their physical strength and develop their intelligence and satisfy the demands of cheerful and interesting emotional and recreational games, thus making a substantial contribution to their cultural and emotional lives.

Games such as hide-and-seek, watermelon picking, tail-picking, shuttlecock kicking, sleigh-riding and playing with dolls help everyone to cooperate in harmony, understand what the collective is, know what the strength of unity and harmony is, and experience the emotions of the juvenile mind to the full.

Secondly, there are large number of various plays, and everyone can learn easily and enjoy themselves. The Korean folk games are diverse and are characterized by the fact that everyone can learn easily and enjoy themselves. In yut-game, for example, everyone from children to adults can learn easily and enjoy themselves. This kind of plays includes wood splint counting play, shadow playing, scissors-paper-rock playing, and ball kicking.

Thirdly, a considerable number of games were created by taking into account the scientific principles of natural phenomena. Our people have created many folk games taking into account the principles of natural phenomena. Kite-flying using the force of the wind blowing in autumn and winter, sleigh-riding on the ice or snow in winter, top spinning, swinging using the elasticity of the string and the centrifugal force, rope skipping, shuttlecock kicking using the principle of the object falling in the air, and the likes had been created from the scientific principles of natural phenomena.

Lastly, all the games are cheerful, optimistic and emotional.