Reviving Korea's traditional dress in heart of Seoul

On any given afternoon near Gyeongbok Palace, the open courtyards resemble a historical pageant. Swirling skirts and embroidered coats flap against centuries-old timber pillars as thousands of visitors step out in "hanbok" — the traditional dress of Korea. Refined over more than a millennium and rooted in the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1910), the classic attire features fluid silhouettes: a "jeogori" (jacket) paired with a sweeping "chima" (skirt) for women or "baji" (trousers) for men. While historically tailored from hemp, ramie or silk to reflect social standing and seasonal shifts, the garments are celebrated today for their understated elegance and harmony. Driven by global interest in period dramas and modern pop culture, renting hanbok has transformed from a niche cultural activity into a highlight for domestic and international travelers exploring Seoul’s historic core. However, as costumed crowds have expanded, concerns have grown over cheap synthetic knockoffs and historical inaccuracies that obscure the authentic craft behind the garment. To counter that shift, cultural auth