PHOTOS: Event showcases beauty of hanbok

Hanbok Expo takes place at COEX in Gangnam-gu Seoul on Aug 7 2025 AJP Han Jun-gu — Hanbok or traditional Korean dresses are on display at an event at COEX in southern Seoul on Aug. 7, 2025. AJP Han Jun-gu

SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - The beauty of hanbok, or traditional Korean dress, continues to capture global attention, fueled by the huge popularity of South Korean dramas and films overseas.

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, a four-day event was held last week in southern Seoul to ride the wave of hanbok's rising popularity, showcasing a diverse range of hanbok from over 150 brands. The collection included elegant, classical styles as well as creative and practical designs with modern touches by young designers, along with bags featuring traditional quilting techniques.

The annual event, which marked the eighth time this year, offered participants a chance to learn about hanbok, which represents the country's aesthetic tradition, evolving in contemporary fashion with its sophisticated lines, vibrant colors, and elegant silhouette.

Visitors were able to try on and purchase hanbok along with traditional accessories while appreciating the various hanbok on display. Free admission was also offered to those wearing hanbok, encouraging more people to be spotted at the event in traditional dress.

Even those who were unable to wear hanbok could explore the event with an affordable admission fee of 5,000 won (about US$3–4).

A fashion show featuring various hanbok for children and adults, with themes based on the country’s four distinctive seasons, was also held on the first day of the event last Thursday.

Many booths featured their own unique themes including one where visitors could experience ddakji, a traditional paper tile game that gained fame through Netflix's hit series "Squid Game."

Han Jun-gu jungu141298@ajupress.com