Hanbok stickers made by VANK
Hanbok(한복), Korean clothing is a form of clothing that is worn for traditional holidays or special occasions such as weddings and child’s first birthday. Hanbok can be traced back to the time of the three kingdoms. This is when Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje were ruling over the peninsula. There have been artifacts showing both men and women wearing jeogori(upper garment). Men typically wore baji(wide trousers), while women wore chima (long skirts). The differences between women and men’s jeogori was relative to size and length depending on gender. Jeogori was tightened onto the body on the waist with a heoriddi(a belt). As time went on, the length slowly shortened and eventually in the Joseon dynasty it was fastened with a goreum or a ribbon tied to the right side on the jeogori.
There were different types of baji worn. There was a holtae baji which was tighter , a daegugo which was a longer form and a jambang-ee which was unlined shorts. For the chima, there are murals showing both men and women wearing them. In Joseon Dynasty, they modified the hanbok similar to what the modern hanbok is today. Jeogori has been shortened significantly by tying by the waist using a gilt now which is the collar part. A goreum is used in a women’s hanbok to embellish it as well as additional fastening. Chima, the skirt, has its length at the ankles and fastens above the waist. Even more so now the modern hanbok has been mixed with Western and other cultural influences.
The pioneer for the new modern hanbok is the late designer Lee Young Hee. Allowing Koreans to wear them more casually in their daily lives while still looking somewhat traditional. This includes shortening of the chima, variety of prints such as stripes, polka dots, plaids, etc. It has kept traits of the traditional hanbok but allowed it to be worn in day-to-day life and at a lesser cost. Hanbok holds a lot of cultural significance.
Written by: Samantha Garcia. From New York , United States . Current 4th year student at John Jay college of Criminal Justice .Pursing an International Criminal Justice B.A and a minor in Psychology. Intern at VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea)