In late July Juche 77 (1988), Chairman Kim Jong Il gave valuable instructions concerned with the publications based on the folk traditions.

   Mentioning that the wise Korean nation with a long history of five thousand years has created and developed excellent folk traditions, he expressed his intention to complete a book on the Korean folk traditions in our own fashion to hand it down to the posterity.

   He continued that the book should be written well retaining the folk traditions, suited to the aesthetic taste of the era and socialist way of life so that it could make the cultural traditions, good manners and customs peculiar to the nation widely known to the world.

   Afterwards, for its compilation and publication, he established a state non-permanent compilation committee and organized a writing team including able scientists, journalists, editors and officials. Entitling it Korean Folk Traditions, he gave detailed instructions on its volumes, composition, structure, description and contents as well as the matters of principles on academic aspect, and took practical steps for its publication.

   Thanks to his initiative, detailed guidance and deep care, the  Korean Folk Traditions in seven volumes was finely compiled and published on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea in October Juche 84 (1995).

   It described the wide range of customary practices supported with the historical content such as the way of clothing, food and housing, family life, working life, folk holidays and games, folk music and dance, folklore, folkcraft and the like.

   The book Korean Folk Traditions is a priceless national treasure which came into the world by the benevolent measures of the Chairman who prized the folk customs of the nation and wisely led to retain it.