IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Background. Various wrestling activities have been practiced all around the world by most societies and cultures throughout the ages. In the Far East, Japanese sumō and Mongolian wrestling are well-known, but this article intends to investigate the origins and transformation of the lesser known wrestling culture of Korea. At least in terminology, most Korean researchers acknowledge Korean wrestling’s ancient origins in Chinese wrestling activities, although possible Mongolian influence is for the greatest part neglected, perhaps for a lack of sources.

Problem and aim. Some form of wrestling activity was definitely already performed during the Koguryŏ period on the peninsula. During the Koryŏ period, wrestling seemed a popular pastime of the kings. However during the Chosŏn period, it seems that the Confucian elite increasingly thought of wrestling as a lower class activity, connected to violence and unruly behavior. Toward the end of the Chosŏn period, Korean wrestling transformed entirely into a folk game for commoners, performed outdoors most likely during festivities connected to harvest and seasonal changes.

Method. The methodology of this article is an extensive literature review of the primary Korean texts, secondary Korean sources, and a single available book in English.
Results and conclusions. Within the last century, Korean wrestling has evolved from a traditional ‘folk game’ to a more organized and systemized national ‘folk sport,’ and only officially designated by the name ssirŭm about a century ago.