Choi Bok-hee: Master artisan of hanbok

Hello HACD friends!

Today we want to introduce you to a great artisan: Choi Bok-hee, creator of wonderful Hanbok.

Figure 1. A girl wearing a hanbok picture by Zero Take on Unsplash

But first of all… What is a hanbok?

The Hanbok is the traditional Korean dress. It can be worn by both men and women. For women, it consists of a short jacket (jeogori) and a long, full skirt (chima). For men's hanbok, the skirt is replaced by wide trousers (baji) closed at the ankles. For both men and women, the hanbok follows a very simple and straight line, without pockets.

Figure 2 Historical Hanbok preserved at The British Museum

Choi Bok-hee: a great artist
Choi Bok-hee was born in 1930 in Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu in Seoul. She learned to sew at a young age thanks to her mother. They both made clothes for wealthy customers in the area where they lived.

Ms. Choi not only made beautiful hanbok, but also devoted herself to restoring royal clothing (gungjung hanbok) from the Joseon dynasty. In 1983 she was awarded the title of Chimjang (針匠).

In 2002 she also took part to the NHK’s 1st International Quilt Festival at Tokyo Dome in Japan. She died in 2008 at the age of 78.

A lot of her works were displayed in New York, thanks to the Kang Collection, after the closure were donated to The British Museum, London.

Hanbok nowadays
Nowadays, the hanbok is still commonly worn in ceremonies, such as weddings. But if you want to wear the traditional dress, you can! In Seoul, there are many stores that rent Hanbok for you to experience this unforgettable moment. Also, you can take beautiful photos wearing your hanbok at Gyeongbokgung, Royal Palace of Seoul.

Figure 3 BTS wearing hanbok during Chuseok

Hanbok & Hallyu
Those who regularly watch Korean dramas will already be familiar with the hanbok.

This traditional dress is worn by many protagonists, and we often see it in historical dramas as well. An example? The beautiful IU (Lee Ji-eun) in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Every year at traditional festivals, many idols wear the Hanbok!

Reference
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG227339
https://vmfa.museum/piction/6027262-78219767/