Korean Traditional Games: Yutnori, Jegichagi & More

🎲 Yutnori

Photo: Traditional Korean Yutnori board game.

Yutnori is a classic Korean board game played especially during the Lunar New Year. It involves throwing four wooden sticks (yut) and moving tokens based on the results. The game fosters teamwork, excitement, and strategic thinking.

🦶 Jegichagi

Photo: A child playing Jegichagi by kicking a paper shuttlecock.

Jegichagi is a traditional kicking game where players use their feet to keep a paper shuttlecock (jegi) in the air. It is often played in winter and develops balance, coordination, and rhythm.

🌀 Paengi

Photo: Children spinning wooden tops outdoors in winter.

Paengi is the art of spinning wooden tops using a string whip. It is a beloved winter pastime for children, who compete to see whose top spins the longest or stays within a circle drawn on the ground.

🪁 Yeonnalligi

Photo: Korean traditional rectangular kite flying high in the sky.

Yeonnalligi is the traditional Korean version of kite-flying. Colorful rectangular kites made of hanji (Korean paper) are flown on windy days, often with wishes or names written on them for luck and good fortune.

💬 Final Thoughts

Korean folk games are more than entertainment—they embody cultural values of family bonding, coordination, and seasonal celebration. These timeless activities still bring joy to people of all ages today.