Ssirum (Korean-style wrestling) has long tradition in the DPRK.
Korean Ssirum began playing from the time of Ancient Joson, an ancient state. It was more perfect and enriched in content and method from the period of Koguryo.
It is vividly illustrated in the wall paintings in Ssirum Tomb of Koguryo and Changchuan Tomb No.1 located in Jian City of Jilin Province, China where each of two men with physical strength takes hold of his opponent’s satba (thigh band) and measures himself against another in strength.
The Korean Painting “Ssirum” drawn by a famous painter Kim Hong Do in 18th century is one of the representative paintings.
