Events for Hanbok Culture Week to take place in 36 cities around the world

Under the theme, “A Step Forward with Hanbok,” this year’s Hanbok Culture Week will be held in 36 cities across 17 different countries. The main venue where special exhibitions, K-pop concerts and fashion shows will take place is the HiKR Ground, located in the Korea Tourism Organization’s Seoul Center in central Seoul.

The special exhibit showcasing hanbok for different occasions will run throughout Hanbok Culture Week at the HiKR Ground from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors will be able to compare traditional and contemporary hanbok. At 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, a hanbok fashion show and a K-pop concert will be organized at the outdoor stage of the HiKR Ground. K-pop acts including Oh My Girl and Viviz, as well as trot singer Song Ga-in, will perform.

At Korean culture centers located in different cities including Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Warsaw, Rome and Hong Kong, different events will take place.

“We have expanded the Hanbok Culture Week to be held in different cities in other parts of the world with hopes that Korea’s traditional culture can also be loved by foreigners as much as Korea’s pop culture,” said Kim Hye-joo, an official from the Culture Ministry.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism began organizing Hanbok Culture Week during the week when Hanbok Day falls, which is Oct. 21. Hanbok Day was officially recognized by the Culture Ministry and those working in the hanbok industry in 1996. The day is dedicated to spreading and preserving the tradition of hanbok, taking a day or two every autumn to celebrate the beauty and history of the garment. October was selected as it is said to be the best month to wear the traditional Korean garment due to the cool breeze and clear air. This year’s Hanbok Culture Week is the fifth edition.

For more information about this year’s Hanbok Culture Week, visit hanbokweek2022.com. 

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]