While admiring the beauty and simplicity of a hanbok, anyone not of Korean heritage may be tempted to wear one. And why wouldn’t they? The colors, designs, and meaning elevate the hanbok into a garment that’s elegant and easy to wear. But to do so under the wrong circumstances when the Korean culture isn’t yours can quickly stray into cultural appropriation.

Korea’s Cultural Treasure

The people of Korea wore the traditional hanbok for centuries before it began to fall out of fashion in the late 19th century. It was a workhorse of a garment that allowed ease of movement while also embodying the values held dear by Korean culture, including an appreciation of nature. The traditional hanbok includes the jeogori, fashioned like a blouse or jacket that ties off-center at roughly sternum-level and worn by men and women. Women paired the jeogori with a chima or long skirt while men paired it with baji or loose-fitting pants. The materials, colors, and embroidery found on traditional hanbok typically reflected the wearer’s social status, wealth or participating in a ceremonial event.

The Modern Hanbok

Today, the traditional Korean hanbok has been revived and renewed for a younger generation of Koreans who are re-discovering it and re-claiming it as their own. The modern hanbok may feature a mix of prints, patterns, and solids. The hems of both the jeogori and the chima may be higher or lower depending on the wearer’s body shape and personal preference. Beyond the hanbok, some clothing designers have created clothing that’s clearly inspired by it for casual, office, and special occasion wear. The hanbok has received additional attention in recent years due to an increase in its visibility in South Korean television programs like “Mystic Pop Up Bar”, now available outside South Korea through streaming services.

So When Can You Wear One?

As a foreigner, it’s easy to think that donning a hanbok is a wonderful way to show just how much you appreciate the beauty of the Korean culture. But it’s vitally important to be aware of how those actions might be perceived by people who are Korean and might see someone not of Korean descent in traditional Korean dress as offensive. When you’re given permission to wear one, such as for a ceremonial or milestone event like a wedding, it may be appropriate for a non-Korean to wear a hanbok as long as it’s worn respectfully. But for casual or entertainment purposes, like Halloween, wearing the hanbok can appear to be cultural appropriation even if you intend it as appreciation. In many cases, unless you have been expressly invited to wear a hanbok, it’s unwise for a foreigner to decide on their own to wear one.

The hanbok has been a constant in Korean culture for thousands of years, and many Koreans feel a sense of pride when they wear it. The modern hanbok is attractive and readily accessible for many people in South Korea and beyond, which makes it tempting for foreigners who want to wear it. But without an invitation to wear it as an acknowledgment of friendship or welcoming into a family such as through marriage, a foreigner should think twice before wearing the hanbok. There are plenty of Western clothes designed with hanbok influences that can provide a similar look without the potential for causing inadvertent offense.

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