The Beautiful Meeting of Tradition and Modernity
〈2025 Hanbok Store〉 COEX Hanbok Exhibition Visit

Secrets of Joseon: Basic Exhibition Information

〈2025 Hanbok Store〉, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, is Korea's only hanbok exhibition now in its 8th year. After discovering this large-scale event featuring 150 brands last year, I decided to visit again.

Since I knew about pre-registration in advance, I was able to enter for free by scanning the QR code on the day. Future visitors should note this information in advance, as admission costs ₩5,000 without pre-registration.

Royal Colors: The Splendid World of Hanbok

Upon arriving at COEX Hall D around 4 PM, a diverse world of hanbok greeted me. The first thing that caught my eye was the variety of colors and designs. From traditional red and blue to soft mint, pastel pink, and bright lime green, the displayed hanbok skirts represented the colors of the rainbow.

Hanbok expresses unique beauty through color harmony and elegant lines. The obangsaek (five traditional colors: blue, red, yellow, white, black) reflects East Asian yin-yang five elements philosophy, with each color symbolizing directions, seasons, and human virtues. From a fashion design perspective, this color system demonstrates sophisticated color theory understanding centuries ahead of Western modern approaches. The hanbok silhouette emphasizes natural drape and geometric contrast between the fitted jeogori (upper jacket) and voluminous chima (full skirt), creating visual proportions that flatter the human form while maintaining modesty - principles that continue to influence Korean fashion designers today and have recently attracted attention from international luxury brands seeking authentic cultural inspiration.

I was particularly impressed by a mannequin wearing a deep navy men's hanbok. The generous sleeves and neat design caught my attention, and I overheard other visitors saying "This mannequin looks sexy." Seeing it in person, I couldn't help but agree. The silhouette created by the flowing fabric showed both contemporary and traditional elegance simultaneously.

Secret Language: The Beauty of Exquisite Accessories and Impulse Buying

As captivating as the hanbok were the meticulously crafted accessories. The splendor of norigae ornaments and daenggi hair ribbons was particularly impressive. Mint, pink, and black daenggi ribbons were intricately embossed with gold patterns, while others were embroidered with traditional motifs and auspicious characters like '福' (fortune).

Seeing these beautiful accessories, I suddenly felt the urge to purchase. I ended up spending ₩450,000 (about $335). For international readers, this amount is equivalent to about a month's groceries for a single household in Seoul or a mid-range bag from a Korean contemporary designer. I bought red dorangdaenggi, blue, green, navy gold leaf accessories, and a gold leaf belt. Traditionally, these gold leaf accessories are not worn on the head, but I purchased them with the intention of using them creatively in various styling.

The seller explained that there are very few craftsmen left in Korea who can do geumpak (gold leaf). Currently, Master Kim Deok-hwan, designated as National Intangible Cultural Property No. 119, is one of the last masters preserving this ancient technique. Gold leaf application is an extremely demanding process done entirely by hand, requiring craftsmen to precisely apply tissue-thin gold leaf over intricate patterns carved into wooden blocks, taking decades of experience to master. This technique requires such precision that even slight tremors or humidity changes can ruin hours of meticulous work. This level of craftsmanship has gained international recognition, notably when Karl Lagerfeld drew inspiration from Korean traditional techniques for his 2015 Chanel Cruise Collection. Lagerfeld integrated hanbok's voluminous silhouettes, bold color combinations, and traditional patchwork techniques into haute couture interpretations, showing how Korean traditional crafts continue to influence global luxury fashion.

Dorangdaenggi is mainly an accessory worn with wedding or formal ceremonial dress, used to decorate the ends of braided hair. It plays an important role especially in bridal wedding attire and is characterized by intricate gold leaf patterns. Gold leaf belts are worn around the waist, mainly with court dress or special ceremonial clothes. These traditional accessories are more suitable for ceremonial hanbok rather than everyday wear, and enhance the dignity of hanbok when worn on special occasions.

Timeless Beauty: Various Hanbok Styles

The exhibition showcased various styles of hanbok. From traditional women's hanbok with red jeogori and ivory skirts, to refreshing combinations of mint green jeogori with pink skirts, and blue skirts with yellow jeogori, the diversity was impressive.

Harmony of Tradition and Modernity: When Hanbok Meets Daily Life

What particularly stood out at this exhibition were various attempts to incorporate hanbok elements into daily life. Designs that added contemporary sensibility while maintaining traditional hanbok beauty showed that hanbok is not just clothing for special occasions but a living cultural asset that can naturally blend into our daily lives. This contemporary application of traditional dress has found new audiences through popular culture - from Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters featuring characters wearing beautifully stylized hanbok while fighting supernatural beings to K-drama costume design. Most notably, Karl Lagerfeld's groundbreaking 2015 Chanel Cruise Collection in Seoul drew direct inspiration from hanbok aesthetics. It featured saekdong jeogori (multicolored striped sleeves), traditional patchwork techniques, and hanbok's voluminous silhouettes reimagined in luxury fabrics. Lagerfeld's fascination with Korean culture went beyond mere aesthetic elements. He boldly declared "I think the Asian world is now better than the old European world" and specifically chose Korea over more commonly referenced Asian cultures, stating "It's funny that everyone gets inspired by China... but not Korea... I think it's really interesting." His admiration extended to Korean design elements, particularly praising Hangul by saying "I love the Korean alphabet too. It's like... cubist. Very graphic!" This deep appreciation for Korean creativity and modernity led him to declare Korea as "the most influential country in Asia with energy and creativity and youth culture" - a prescient observation that anticipated the global Hallyu phenomenon we see today.

The exhibition space was beautifully organized around four seasons themes - Spring (春), Summer (夏), Autumn (秋), Winter (冬). Each seasonal section showcased hanbok designs and colors that reflected the characteristics of that particular season. The summer section, where I spent the most time, was an exhibit with cool ponds and lotus backgrounds that effectively conveyed the refreshing seasonal feeling of hanbok. This thoughtful presentation demonstrates how traditional Korean dress continues to inspire contemporary designers and storytellers worldwide, creating bridges between historical authenticity and modern creativity.

Healing Through Culture: The Psychological Comfort of Cultural Experience

What I particularly felt while walking through the hanbok exhibition was the psychological comfort and richness that cultural experience provides. Walking among the colorful hanbok, I naturally felt peace of mind and could temporarily forget daily stress. This cultural immersion becomes increasingly important as Korean culture gains global recognition through various media platforms. From K-dramas to Netflix animations like KPop Demon Hunters, showing traditional hanbok reinterpreted in fantastical settings, it demonstrates how our cultural heritage continues to evolve and inspire creators and audiences worldwide.

The Value of Tradition: In Conclusion

Visiting the COEX hanbok exhibition, I rediscovered the beauty and contemporary value of our traditional culture. I particularly felt that hanbok is not just clothing for special occasions but a living culture that can naturally blend into our daily lives.

While it was a considerable investment of ₩450,000 ($335), I think there's deep meaning in purchasing accessories that embody traditional craft techniques at risk of extinction. Supporting these remaining artisans becomes an act of cultural preservation - each purchase helps sustain not only individual livelihoods but centuries-old knowledge that could disappear within a generation. By choosing these handcrafted works, we become stewards of cultural heritage, ensuring that future generations can still witness the exceptional skills and artistry of Korean traditional craftsmanship.