VOL.93/2026.04

Beautiful Hanbok Captured In Illustrations

2025.10.02

In the heart of Seoul, around Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung Palaces, you will often spot people walking around in hanbok. Wearing hanbok to palaces has turned into a cultural experience of its own. The vibrant colors of hanbok blend beautifully with the palace architecture, and since hanbok wearers get free admission, it has become a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. It seems that there is a special kind of harmony when tradition meets everyday life.
In a recent K-Book Trends survey, hanbok was selected as the No. 1 item people associate with “Korean fashion.” With over 1,600 years of history, hanbok has taken many forms depending on the era, season, gender, social class, and occasion. Traditionally, men wore pants and jeogori (jackets), while women wore skirts and jeogori. Light fabrics like ramie and hemp were used in summer, and silk and cotton provided warmth in winter. The curved sleeves of the jeogori carry a soft elegance, and nature-inspired designs, such as flowers, butterflies, and cranes, often decorated the clothes. The traditional five colors, or obangsaek, symbolize balance: between yin and yang, the seasons, and even social class and manners. Hanbok, in this way, reflects Korea’s aesthetics and cultural identity.

This month’s issue introduces the art book, The Story of Hanbok Worn During The Joseon Dynasty (Hyejiwon Books). It helps readers appreciate the beauty and meaning of hanbok throughout history, with clear explanations and rich illustrations. Compiled by an illustrator who originally serialized stories about hanbok on her personal blog, the book covers hanbok styles from the early to late Joseon era in exquisite illustrations. For readers seeking basic knowledge, it explains the structure and evolution of men’s and women’s hanbok in simple terms. It also organizes themed sections on accessories and hairstyles that complete the look for everyone, from children to adults, the hanbok worn by palace attendants, and the ceremonial attire of kings and queens. What makes this book special is how the text is paired with delicate illustrations so that you can almost feel the fabric and imagine the look just by flipping through the pages.