North Koreans are flocking to fields and mountains as the spring greens season gets into full swing. In the mountainous regions of South Pyongan province, such as Kaechon, even schoolchildren are heading to the hills with packed lunches and large containers to gather wild greens from early morning.
According to a Daily NK source in the province, since the beginning of the month, Kaechon residents of all ages have been venturing deep into the mountains to collect wild greens.
Kaechon, a mountainous area bordering Yongbyon and Kujang county in North Pyongan province, sees its residents climb into the hills every spring to gather wild greens and medicinal herbs to support their families. Locals believe that spring greens appearing in April and May are safe to eat, helping to ease hunger during what’s known as the “barley hump” – when autumn harvest stores have been depleted.
While field greens are relatively easy to gather during daily commutes, they grow in limited quantities and are quickly picked by others, driving more people toward the mountains. Mountain foraging, however, requires a full day’s commitment during a limited season, so people depart early with packed lunches and remain until evening.
“You need to separate the sweet greens that can be eaten immediately from the bitter ones that require boiling first. These can either be consumed as side dishes or sold at markets to buy food,” the source explained. “Since bitter herbs can be dried for winter soups or side dishes, families involve everyone in collecting wild greens during this crucial time.”
Families who have exhausted their kimchi supplies call this the “happy season” because they can use collected greens as side dishes. They mobilize as many family members as possible—including children—to take advantage of this period, which they consider “half-a-year’s work for side dishes.”
This seasonal activity has significantly affected school attendance in Kaechon.
“Students from elementary through high school frequently miss classes to collect greens, and teachers generally allow it, acknowledging it as an annual occurrence they can’t prevent,” the source said.
Nevertheless, teachers concerned about attendance records sometimes send present students to fetch absent classmates. These efforts usually prove futile since the missing students have typically left for the mountains early in the morning.
Because of this recurring pattern, some teachers suggest schools should simply schedule vacations during the spring greens season.
Some North Korean schools take matters into their own hands by implementing unofficial breaks in late April, but even this provides insufficient time, leading students to begin skipping classes much earlier.
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