From olden times, the Koreans liked to help their neighbours with sincerity in building houses and moving into new houses. This became their traditional lifestyle.

   Bringing a box of matches to the new house originated from the practice of giving a flint to its owner. This custom has a very long history.

   In the past the Koreans regarded fire as a source of heating the room, cooking food and lighting in the house and a symbol of strength to drive out the evil spirit. Therefore, bringing a flint to a new house implied the hope that the family would be prosperous like the burning flame.

   With the advent of a match in the modern times, the practice of giving a flint was changed into a custom of giving a box of matches.

   There was also a practice of giving a gourd or noodles, which meant a simple hope that the family would be well-off as if dipping out rice with a gourd and its members would live long like long noodles.

   Now, it has become part of the traditional etiquette for the Korean people to help their neighbours, relatives, friends or colleagues carry their household articles to their new houses and present them with a box of matches, gourd and something good for their life in the new houses. 

   Today, in the DPRK a large number of modern houses have been built in the capital city and local areas and distributed to the people. This being the situation, the custom of moving into new houses is being supplemented with new contents and expanded and encouraged.

   The custom of moving into new houses was inscribed on the list of national intangible cultural heritage as No. 139 on August 8, 2025.