Hanbok (한복) is a collective term for traditional Korean clothing. Though there have been slight changes in hanbok over time in terms of material, colors, and the length of the skirt or jacket, the hanbok's basic format has more or less remained the same for the past 1,600 years. The general design of hanbok aims to create a delicate flow of lines and angles. The top part is called a jeogori (저고리) and is blouse-like and well-fitted with long sleeves with the men's version being longer, stretching down to the waist. Women wear loose skirts (chima 치마) while men wear baggy pants (paji 파지). The colors of a hanbok are decided according to the “five colors theory” known as obangsaek 오방색. This refers to the theory of yin and yang and the five elements metal (white), fire (red), wood (blue), water (black) and earth (yellow). Most hanbok are made of naturally obtainable colors.
Hanbok can be classified into ceremonial and everyday dress, and then further categorized by gender, age and season. The colors and material of a hanbok used to specify social status and marital status. The material that the hanbok was made of could be telling of one’s social status. The upper class wore closely woven ramie cloth or plain and patterned silks while the commoners wore cotton. The color could also be telling of this: the commoners usually wore white except for on special occasions when they would wear pale pink, light green, gray, and charcoal, while the upper classes wore bright colored hanboks with beautiful embroidery. Eventually, when more people started wearing colored hanboks, bright colors were generally worn by children and girls, and muted hues by middle aged men and women. Unmarried women often wore yellow jeogori and red chima while married women wore green jeogori and red chima.
About a century ago, people use to wear hanbok everyday, but with globalization, all cultures have changed over time. 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 or for other such major events within the family. But as cultures keep evolving, getting back in touch with traditions in our own way is also a big part of evolving. The runways at Seoul Fashion Week are constantly filled with new ideas for modernizing and incorporating hanbok in everyday clothes today. Many people have started wearing stylish hanbok modified into a suit as an everyday item of clothing, and many people also enjoy outings and taking pictures in hanbok by renting one from hanbok rental shops.
Traditional Hanbok-
Modern hanbok suit-
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