Many of people in the DPRK have loved much to play this folklore game. Chess fans can be seen playing Janggi in parks or pleasure grounds even in winter.

Janggi has a long history and it was widely introduced already in the period of Koryo Dynasty (918-1392), Im Sung Bin, section chief of the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences, told KCNA, adding:

Janggi is much different in playing rules and way from not only Western chess but Chinese chess. It is believed that Koreans began playing chess earlier than the Westerners and Chinese.

The arrangement of its chessmen gives a glimpse of intelligence and sagacity of the Koreans. It was told in the olden times that local military strategists would find out tactics while playing Janggi.

There are a lot of anecdotes and sayings related to Janggi, and one of them is a saying "A kibitzer disregards getting slapped in the cheek."