Korea Tour : Hanbok, Traditional Korean Clothes

Hanbok is the traditional attire of the Korean people. Worn daily up until just 100 years ago, these days it is only worn on festive occasions or special anniversaries. It is a formal dress and most Koreans keep a Hanbok for special times in their life. While the traditional hanbok was beautiful in its own right, the design has changed slowly but surely over the generations. The core of Hanbok is its graceful shape and vibrant colors.

 

Features of Hanbok

 

The unique lines of Hanbok appear at their greatest when the wearer is in motion. Hanbok is creative and expressive in its design. Another special feature about Hanbok is the shape, having a slim top and wide bottom, similar to a bell. The jacket should be tighten and fitted while the skirt is relaxed. The tightly fitting jacket attractively reflects the shape of the upper body. The wide sleeves and flexible skirt flatter the wearer’s gracefulness by hiding the movements of the lower body, so the wearer appears to be floating on air.

Hanbok fabric is colored using natural dyes. The colors of nature are imbued in the cloth, giving Hanbok a depth and richness not found from artificial dyes.

 

Hanbok Wearing Occasions

 

For modern Koreans, Hanbok is the formal clothing worn during Korean holidays or on special occasions. Children wear Hanbok on their first birthday and adults wear it for their wedding ceremony and their 60th birthday. Hanbok is also worn for funerals. 

It is still used as casual wear in villages or districts where the traditional ways of life are being maintained, such as Cheonghak-dong on Jirisan Mountain.

 

Although Hanbok have become the ritual dress of choice worn only on traditional holidays, Koreans' love for Hanbok is tremendous. The popularity of Korean historical dramas is causing many foreigners to take a keener interest in traditional Korean attire as well.

 

Revolutionized Modern Hanbok

 

Hanbok is beautiful but, in a sense, it is burdensome to wear Hanbok as everyday clothes properly. Moreover, the price is high. So, it is slowly being revolutionized through the changing of fabrics, colors and features, reflecting the public's desires. Many aspiring Hanbok designers have altered Hanbok for everyday wear with traditional elements at the basis of the garment but having a distinct modern feel.

These days, even foreigners love experiencing wearing Hanbok.