The dure (Korean: 두레) was a traditional system of collective labor within small farming communities in Korea.
[1][2] Its practice differed by region, and there were numerous terms for and types of dure, including nongsa (농사), nonggye (농계), nongcheong (농청), nongak (농악), nonggi (농기), mokcheong (목청), gyaksa (갹사), dongne nonmegi (동네논매기), gilssam (길쌈), dolgae gieum (돌개기음).
[7] The origin of the dure is generally found in the ancient clan community, although differences exist depending on scholars.
The dure was formed around the Samnam Area (삼남지방, 삼 usually refers to Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do) gradually moved northward with the spread of the Yiang Act.
The dure occurred in Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do among the Samnam Area the late 17th century, the Yi Ang Act spread not only to the south but also to the Gyoenggi-do.
Since planting and gimaegi (weeding) were often performed simultaneously, the labor force was needed intensively in a short period of time during the spring and summer.
Thus, in rural areas, the Dure organization, which organises the peasant culture and supplies the necessary labor, will inevitably emerge.
At the end of Japanese colonial rule, the dure disappeared due to forced labor, public delivery, and rural decomposition.
And the dure for agricultural production was mainly organized and operated intensively when the homogeneous work was carried out on planting and rice paddies.