Korean Culture

Korean Traditional Clothing

Korean traditional clothing, or hanbok, are special clothing used for Sundays, special occasions, weddings, etc. They come in hundreds of different colors, styles and fabrics. They are for both men and women. 2 generations ago, hanboks were worn all the time. But now, they are only worn for special occasions. The Lunar New Year (late January, early February) is a good example of this.

 

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Gat-chogori

A gat-chogori was slightly bigger than an average chogori, but had rabbit fur lining the inside for warmth. The outside layer was made of silk.

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A demo of a natural dying process for hanbok fabric.

Colors
White represents purity, integrity, and chastity; it was the most common color for common clothes. The upper class and court figures wore red, yellow, blue, and black clothing in addition to white. These colors symbolize the five traditional elements in Oriental cosmology (fire, earth, water, metal, and wood). Dyes were made from natural materials such as flowers or bark.

Coat Belts