The Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism (MCST) in collaboration with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (Director: Jang Dong-gwang) will host the ‘2024 Hanbok Culture Week’ from October 14 (Monday) to 20 (Sunday) across Jongno Seoul and various regions nationwide under the theme The Beauty of Hanbok the Companion of Hallyu. First Vice Minister Yong Ho-seong will attend the commemorative event on October 18 at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art to encourage those contributing to Hanbok culture.

Now in its seventh year Hanbok Culture Week is held annually during the third week of October to promote Hanbok culture in daily life. The event features diverse Hanbok-related programs such as exhibitions experiences and fashion shows. Prior to the official opening of the event traditional Hanbok experience and educational programs will be held near Gwanghwamun in connection with the Jongno Hanbok Festival (Oct. 11-12) teaching both domestic and foreign tourists how to wear Hanbok properly. Additionally at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido a special event titled Traveling Hanbok Market (Oct. 3-16) will display and sell contemporary Hanbok and traditional accessories in a modern setting.

Participating Hanbok brands (Oct. 3-9): Morinori Hanboklyn/LaCore Ohmyo Hyemi (Oct. 10-16): Komark by Dolshilnai Songhwa by Jung Oulu Ryu&byou Maison de Yoon (9 brands in total over two weeks).
To spread Hanbok-wearing culture various exhibitions experiences and forums will take place in the Jongno area.

During Hanbok Culture Week 2024 a wide range of events will be held in Jongno Seoul including exhibitions Hanbok experiences and forums. At the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (Oct. 9-20) a special exhibition titled Touch See will showcase Hanbok materials like robes wonsam (traditional wedding dress) and burial garments along with videos documenting the Hanbok-making process and hanji (traditional paper) structures demonstrating how Hanbok has been connected to everyday life from the past to the present. At Cheong Wa Daes Chunchugwan Hall (Oct. 14-17) an exhibition on traditional Hanbok for life ceremonies such as first birthdays coming-of-age weddings and funerals will highlight the importance of Hanbok in marking key moments in life.

At Changgyeonggung Palace’s Hwangyeonjeon Hall (Oct. 16-20) an event offering guidance on wearing traditional Hanbok correctly and a photo booth for commemorative shots will provide visitors with a chance to experience the elegance and beauty of traditional Hanbok. Meanwhile in the courtyard of the National Folk Museum of Korea (Oct. 14-15) an event for youth will explain the history of traditional coming-of-age ceremonies allowing participants to better understand traditional etiquette through Hanbok. At the Seoul Museum of Craft Art’s education hall (Oct. 19) experts will gather for a forum on “The Past and Present of Hanbok: Cultural Identity and Modern Utilization.”

October 18 Commemorative Event: Recognizing Hanbok Contributors with Awards

On October 18 a special event will recognize six individuals who have contributed to Hanbok culture with awards from the Minister of Culture Sports and Tourism. Notable recipients include:

Hanbok Culture Merit Award: Former Dankook University Professor Ko Bu-ja recognized for her contributions to research on traditional Korean clothing and education of future generations.
Hanbok Person of the Year: Kwon Hye-jin CEO of Hyeon for her work in popularizing Hanbok through various business ventures.
Rising Star Award: Lee Ji-eon CEO of Happly for her contribution to spreading Hanbok culture with sophisticated designs including stage costumes for K-pop group NewJeans.
Exemplary Public Official Award: Nam Gyeong-bok from Gangneung City Hall acknowledged for his efforts in promoting Hanbok culture locally such as pushing for the establishment of a Hanbok ordinance in Gangneung.
Additionally the Most Hanbok-Friendly Workplace Award will go to Gyeongju HICO and the Exemplary Hanbok Culture Educator Award will be given to Park Ok-hee CEO of Park Ok-hee Traditional Clothes for her contributions to promoting Hanbok education in primary and secondary schools. The commemorative event will also feature a Hanbok fashion show under the theme “Han_gyul: Extraordinary Ordinariness” where the audience can interact with models and experience Hanbok up close.

Hanbok Exhibitions Experiences and Education Events at Over 300 Locations Nationwide

Hanbok Culture Week will also be celebrated at over 300 locations across the country including five Hanbok Culture Creation Centers (Gangneung Gyeongbuk Busan Jeonju and Jeonnam) and 10 program venues. Events will range from exhibitions featuring Hanbok by national intangible heritage holders (Gyeongbuk) Hanbok games (Jeonbuk) and learning sewing techniques from a master (Jeonnam). At the National Library of Sejong (Oct. 16-20) children can participate in a traditional Hanbok-wearing event alongside traditional games like yutnori and stone-stepping.

Ten specially curated programs selected through a public contest will also run across the nation offering Hanbok experiences and educational programs. Additionally 282 locations including Hanbok rental shops museums galleries and workshops will offer special Hanbok rental discounts and experience events giving residents across the country the chance to engage with Hanbok.

Hanbok Culture Week Expands Abroad with Events in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Hanbok Culture Week will also have an international presence. In Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam (Oct. 26-27) Hanbok-related events will be held in conjunction with the “Korea-Vietnam Friendship Korean Culture Day” including a fashion show featuring both Korean and Vietnamese traditional clothing as well as a Hanbok promotion booth. More details about Hanbok Culture Week 2024 can be found on the official website (https://www.kcdf.or.kr/hanbokcultureweek/main).

Vice Minister Yong Ho-seong expressed his hopes for the event saying “We hope that through the Hanbok Culture Week events held across over 300 locations including Jongno in Seoul people will have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and elegance of our traditional attire Hanbok. The MCST will continue to support efforts to bring Hanbok closer to people in their everyday lives.”