Top spinning, one of Korean children’s winter folk games, is played on ice or on the ground.

   In winter children had a pleasant time outdoors, playing the game with tops made in different shapes to meet their tastes.

   Top spinning is a folk game much favoured by children.

   According to historical records, the top was called Phingi. It began to be called today’s Phaengi before and after modern times.

   In the past, its name differed according to localities: seru, seri and phaei in Phyongan Province, pongae, pangae and phingae in Hamgyong Province, phaei and ppaei in Kangwon Province, and sori and seri in Hwanghae Province. But such names had a common meaning.

   Currently, it constitutes a major event in the folk games of schoolchildren held across the country every year on the occasion of lunar New Year’s Day and other folk holidays.

   It was inscribed on the list of national intangible cultural heritage as No. 140 in August 2025.