Hanbok: The Elegance of Korean Traditional Culture

Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most attractive tourist destination in Korea. Near Gyeongbokgung, there are many places where you can rent hanbok. Renting and wearing hanbok while strolling around Gyeongbokgung is perhaps one of the most famous tourist activities.

Today, we will explore hanbok, a garment familiar to both foreigners and Koreans. In fact, many Koreans are not well-versed in hanbok. Thus, we will delve into some interesting facts about hanbok that are as useful to Koreans as they are to foreigners.



Hanbok means 'the clothing of the Korean people.' It refers to the attire worn by the Korean people who settled on the Korean Peninsula across different eras. It’s a broader term than you might think.


BTS, BIGHIT Entertainment

To survive in Korea’s four-season climate with cold winters and hot summers, our ancestors developed and wore clothes made from various materials such as hemp, ramie, cotton, and silk. While influenced by neighboring countries, the aesthetics of hanbok evolved over 5,000 years, diversifying in form and structure.


당염립본왕회도

Generally, when Koreans or foreigners talk about hanbok, they think of 'Joseon Dynasty clothes.' The hanbok available for rent at Gyeongbokgung Palace are also from the Joseon Dynasty, and most of the hanbok seen in Korean dramas and movies are from the Joseon Dynasty. This is understandable because the hanbok of the Joseon era is known for its vibrant colors, and many Korean historical dramas are set in the Joseon period.


MBC

Historically, most hanbok-related materials are limited to the late Joseon Dynasty. There is an absolute lack of resources regarding the styles before or after this period.


Korean Culture Centre

In reality, various styles of hanbok coexisted within a single era. This is due to the class-based society of the Joseon Dynasty, where the clothing differed according to social status. People in the palace wore palace attire, nobles wore noble attire, and commoners wore commoner attire.

국립민속박물관

In historical dramas, costumes often indicate the character's social status. (However, historical accuracy in costume representation in dramas has been lacking for a long time. While entertaining, they should not be taken as historical facts.)

Movie <Jeon Woochi>

Noble hanbok was very complicated to wear. Both men and women had to wear approximately ten different pieces of clothing. Of course, the poor could not afford to wear all these layers. There were also regulations to distinguish social status through clothing to prevent extravagance.


에듀넷

Today, very few Koreans wear hanbok regularly. Some people wear modernized versions or clothes inspired by hanbok. However, the commonly worn hanbok of the 1950s declined with the growth of the textile industry in the 1960s. Anecdotally, until the 1980s, elderly people in rural areas wore hanbok, and it was common to see students in hanbok in university classrooms before the 1980s.


김홍도 <그림 감상>

For modern Koreans, hanbok is seen more as a cultural content, traditional event, or tourist resource rather than everyday wear. Until the early 2000s, families would wear hanbok during Chuseok or Lunar New Year, but this tradition is also declining.


Cha Eunwoo, 삼화식품

There are still occasions where hanbok is essential. For instance, during weddings, both mothers of the bride and groom wear hanbok. After the main ceremony, the bride and groom also wear hanbok during the pyebaek (a traditional Korean ceremony to pay respect to the groom’s family).

사진 출처: 베틀한복

Recently, the popularity of Hallyu (the Korean Wave) has brought hanbok back into the spotlight. Celebrities are often seen wearing hanbok in the media, showcasing its beauty to a global audience.

BLACKPINK, JISOO

Explaining hanbok in detail would turn this blog into a report. Hanbok is a significant part of Korea’s cultural heritage with a rich history and many resources. For those interested in hanbok, there is much to study and see. I encourage you to explore further if you are interested in hanbok.