Korean Entry 1: Hanbok


This is a young lady wearing a hanbok (한복) of the Joseon Dynasty which lasted from 1392 to 1897. The main concept of the hanbok was created during the Goguryeo Dynasty with the women’s hanbok consisting of a jeogori (jacket) and a chima (skirt) with many different variations depending on one’s gender, social and economic standing, or marital status. Bright colors were reserved for the wealthy, while peasants were mandated to wear white or pale shades of pink, green, or grey for special occasions. Higher class individuals had more choices when it came to the color and fashion. This young woman would be a wealthy unmarried lady as shown by her hair style Daeng’gi Meori (댕기머리), a long braid secured with a ribbon at the bottom. Unmarried women traditionally wore a red top with a red skirt, but I wanted to experiment with colors with this character. The dark navy blue is usually reserved for married women.