The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister PARK Bo Gyoon, MCST) together with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (President  KIM Tae Hoon, KDCF) will host Hanbok[1] Expo 2022 at COEX D 2 Hall, Seoul, from August 25 (Thur) to 28 (Sun). The Hanbok Expo is the one and only Hanbok Exhibition that invites people who want to enjoy the charm of Korean traditional costume. Marking the 5^th year, Hanbok Expo 2022 sells attractive Hanbok products from 74 companies at a discount price of up to 80%, and exhibits Hanbok, including accessories made by SONG Ga-in (Korean singer and the ambassador of Hanbok), pieces from contest winners, Hanbok-style school uniforms, and Hanbok as work clothes. There are plenty of opportunities for visitors to experience, including making and wearing Hanbok.

In particular, SEO Young Hee, who has been involved in various activities related to fashion and traditional culture, was appointed as the art director this year and a special exhibition was prepared with the theme of Blue story in the wind. Ten Hanbok designers re-interpreted the image of Madam Suro crossing the East Sea in Hyangga[2] in Silla Dynasty and presents Hanbok made of a color looking similar to the natural indigo blue fabric.

At the Sales Pavilion, where 74 Hanbok companies participate, visitors can buy a variety of products from traditional Hanbok to daily Hanbok clothes and the accessories at an average of 30% of the set price and up to 80% off the normal price. Customers who have purchased the products are also provided with various gifts, including norigae[3] and Hanbok air freshener based on purchased amount. Visitors who wear Hanbok or who have made a reservation in advance can enter the Hanbok Expo for free. Those who want to visit can reserve in advance via the official website (www.2022hanbokexpo.com) by Aug 28 (Sun).

Hanbok ambassador SONG Ga-in also visits the Hanbok Expo on August 25 (Thur) to add enthusiasm and promote the event. The official youtube channel of the Hanbok Advancement Center (https://www.youtube.com/officialhackr) will introduce Hanbok products in real time to promote sales and display about 20 Hanbok accessories. Visitors can take photos and print them on the spot as well. On Aug 26 (Fri) two broadcasts for sales linked with Naver Shopping Live will be aired at 11 am and 3 pm to help visitors who could not attend the site and buy Hanbok products online.

In the Business Promotion Pavilion, the winning piece from the 2022 Hanbok Design Project Contest, Hanbok school uniforms, Hanbok work clothes, and traditional Hanbok costumes will be displayed. Thirty winning pieces of Hanbok from a contest of Hanbok in Everyday Life: Modernization of Hanbok as an Overlay, thirty pieces of newly developed Hanbok school uniforms this year, fifteen pieces of Hanbok worn in workplace in the field of tourism and accommodation, and about 160 traditional Hanbok materials collected through the Hanbok material cataloging project will be presented. Various Hanbok experience events such as making dangui[4] and baeja[5] by yourself, wearing Hanbok properly, and coloring Hanbok postcards will be ready for visitors to experience.

For more information on this event, please visit the official website (www.2022hanbokexpo.com) and call the secretariat office (☎ 02-398-1633/1635) for any inquiries.

MCST official said “Recently Hanbok has been attracting attention from people around the world through Korean cultural contents such as dramas and Korean pop music, and has established itself as one of fashion fields with the charm of Korean culture. Taking the opportunity of the Hanbok Expo, it will be a good chance for people to feel the stylish and aesthetic style of Hanbok and also enjoy the joy of wearing Hanbok in daily life”.