South Korea · Textiles / Costume Making

Hanbok Making (Korean Traditional Garment)

한복 (Hanbok) / 한복 제작

Hanbok is the traditional Korean garment — a deceptively simple form (jeogori jacket, chima skirt for women; jeogori and baji trousers for men) whose making requires extraordinary precision in cloth preparation, cutting, and assembly to produce the characteristic flowing silhouette and structured collar. The Hanbok's beauty is in its geometry — the curved collar (git), the specific sleeve curve (baerae), and the skirt fullness are all produced by precise angular cuts in a specific order that requires the maker to anticipate how the flat cloth will three-dimensionally resolve when worn and moved. Korean silk (and ramie for summer Hanbok) is typically starched, ironed, and beaten to produce the characteristic crisp, papery texture (darimjil — the pressing and shaping technique) that distinguishes authentic Hanbok from imitation.

Risk level: Endangered · Not inscribed internationally; within Korean ICH Living National Treasure system

Alternate Names
Hanbok; Korean traditional dress; hanbok jang; Korean garment making
Geographic Center
Seoul (Bukchon Hanok Village area); Jeonju; national — Living National Treasure hanbok makers across Korea
Community / Ethnic Group
Korean craftspeople; hanbok jang (hanbok makers); Living National Treasure designated masters
Estimated Origin
Estimated 2,000+ years in basic form; current Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897) form; continuous evolution to present
Cultural Function
Ceremonial occasions — weddings, ancestral rites, coming-of-age ceremonies, holidays. National identity garment — Hanbok worn on national holidays and for Korean cultural events globally. Contemporary fashion — new generation of hanbok designers creating contemporary adaptations.
Primary Materials
Korean silk (gungsi or general silk for formal Hanbok); ramie (mosi — for summer Hanbok); cotton (for everyday); natural dyes (partially revived)
Primary Tools
Wooden mallet (for darimjil); smooth stone (beating surface); sewing needle; scissors; iron; starch preparation tools
Process Overview
Cloth preparation → darimjil (beating and starching) → fold test → cutting (git collar spatial curve) → sewing → final assessment
Traditional Applications
Korean ceremonies — weddings, rites, holidays; royal court dress; national identity garment
Contemporary Applications
New hanbok movement (significant — mainstream Korean youth wearing Hanbok for cultural occasions); contemporary fashion; cultural diplomacy; global K-culture context
Notable Practitioners
Living National Treasure hanbok makers — Han Bok-ryeo (Seoul — Living National Treasure No. 89); contemporary designers Lie Sang Bong, Tchai Kim maintaining tradition in fashion context.
Key References
Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea — Living National Treasure No. 89. KCDF Hanbok documentation. Cho, Hyo-Soon (2007). Korean Dress. National Folk Museum of Korea.
Verification Status
Desk-Researched — field verification with Living National Treasure hanbok maker through Cultural Heritage Administration recommended

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