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Hanbok

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Hanbok is the beautiful traditional clothing of the Korean people.

Hanbok (female and male)
Hanbok (female and male)

People wear these clothes to show pride in their shared culture. They are often worn for special events like weddings or festivals.

You might see them during important ceremonies or celebrations. In South Korea, the government even created Hanbok Day in 1996. This special day encourages citizens to wear these traditional garments. Even ethnic Koreans living far away still keep these traditions alive.

Children dressed in Korean traditional clothing at the opening ceremony for Old Korean Legation - 2018 (42300672731)
Children dressed in Korean traditional clothing at the opening ceremony for Old Korean Legation - 2018 (42300672731)

Most hanbok follow a very specific way of working. Both men and women wear a jeogori, which is a top garment.

Hanbok scheme
Hanbok scheme

This top covers the arms and the upper body. For women, the outfit includes a chima, or a skirt.

Korean royal costume-Dangui and Seuranchima-01
Korean royal costume-Dangui and Seuranchima-01

This skirt is often made of rectangular panels. Men wear baji, which are loose-fitting trousers. These roomy pants are perfect for sitting on the floor. Many people also add a po, which is an outer robe.

Hanbok (female and male)
Hanbok (female and male)

The history of hanbok goes back a very long time. We can see early versions in murals from the Goguryeo period.

Ancient Korean male traditional clothing 5C Goguryeo mural
Ancient Korean male traditional clothing 5C Goguryeo mural

These paintings date from the 4th to the 6th century. The clothing was rooted in the styles of northern nomadic peoples. For thousands of years, many Koreans preferred to wear white. They believed white was a pure color for light and the sun. Even during difficult times, people tried to keep these traditions.

Goguryeo mural female noble hanbok
Goguryeo mural female noble hanbok

There are many specific details to notice in the design. A jeogori has a collar called a git and a white band called a dongjeong.

Hanbok scheme
Hanbok scheme

To fasten the clothes, people use fabric strings called goreum. These ribbons can be very decorative and colorful.

Hanbok accessories
Hanbok accessories

Some clothes also use danchu, which are different kinds of buttons. For example, magoja-danchu are large buttons made of metal or gems. These details help make each outfit unique and special.

Today, hanbok connects the past to the modern world. Most modern styles look like clothes from the Joseon dynasty.

Early Joseon Hanbok Korean Textile Museum
Early Joseon Hanbok Korean Textile Museum

This was a time between 1392 and 1897. Different groups of Koreans living in different places have their own styles. For example, North and South Korea have slight regional variations. Since the 1990s, these styles have begun to come together again. This helps everyone stay connected to their rich Korean heritage.

Park Bo-gum 박보검 朴寶劍 at his appointment ceremony as honorary ambassador of 2025 Korea Tourism 4
Park Bo-gum 박보검 朴寶劍 at his appointment ceremony as honorary ambassador of 2025 Korea Tourism 4
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🖼️ Images & Media (25)
File:Goguryeo mural female noble hanbok.jpg
Goguryeo mural female noble hanbok.jpg
File:Hanbok scheme.svg
Hanbok scheme.svg
File:Korean royal costume-Dangui and Seuranchima-01.jpg
Korean royal costume-Dangui and Seuranchima-01.jpg
File:Ancient Korean male traditional clothing 5C Goguryeo mural.jpg
Ancient Korean male traditional clothing...
File:Ancient Korean traditional clothing 5C Goguryeo mural.jpg
Ancient Korean traditional clothing 5C...
File:Hanbok (female and male).jpg
Hanbok (female and male).jpg
File:Korean clothing-Hanbok for children-01.jpg
Korean clothing-Hanbok for children-01.jpg
File:Children dressed in Korean traditional clothing at the opening ceremony for Old Korean Legation - 2018 (42300672731).jpg
Children dressed in Korean traditional...
File:Korean.costume-Hanbok-wedding.bride-01.jpg
Korean.costume-Hanbok-wedding.bride-01.jpg
File:7th century painting of Koreans.png
7th century painting of Koreans.png
File:Korean clothing-Hanbok-Three Kingdoms period-01.jpg
Korean clothing-Hanbok-Three Kingdoms...
File:Ming Emperor Xianzong Enjoying the Lantern Festival (Ming Dynasty) (mamianqun and yesa).jpg
Ming Emperor Xianzong Enjoying the...

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