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Hanbok is the traditional Korean dress, but not many people in Korea wear them anymore,
apart from maybe at a wedding.
The hanbok may be set for a comeback, however, as the government wants to encourage people
to wear the garment more often as they go about their day-to-day business.
Our cultural correspondent Park Ji-won tells us more.
ee Hye-soon is a renowned fashion designer of Hanbok, traditional Korean clothing.
She not only designs them, but she herself has been wearing this delicate clothing for
the past twenty years.She believes hanbok has so much to offer.
"Hanbok is from nature, including its fabrics. Its fabrics are made out of silk worm cocoons,
cotton balls, and the like. That's why it makes people feel comfortable. It's not tight,
but it's not big. It definitely makes you look beautiful."
Hanbok has been wore on the Korean peninsula for thousands of years, but now is been wearing
only at special occasions like wedding.
She hopes this traditional garment could be wore more widely. For example, hanbok could
be a perfect clothes for newly born infants.
She launched this baby line, which are made out of organic cottons, that are dyed with
natural ingredients.
"For hanbok to develop as an everyday piece of clothing, first I believe hanbok should
position itself as a ceremonial costume, rather than changing its forms and designs to fit
into modern way. When more people begin to wear it on important occasions, they'd realize
it could be worn more often."
Contrary to people's ocncerns that it's too complicated to wear, but actually it is not.
And more than anything, it is beautiful, and it fits whatever body figure you have.
"As you can see, I am wearing a hanbok. The Korean government is trying to promote this
beautiful garment and encourage more people to wear it in their everyday lives."
The culture ministry, together with the Korea Craft and Design Foundation, have been campaigning,
for hanbok to be more popularized in modern Korean society.
They recently held a fashion show, solely dedicated to hanbok, as a project to identify
young talented hanbok designers. The government effort will continue this year,
wishing to be wore by more Koreans and people outside of the world to notice the beaty and
comfort of hanbok.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.