Groups campaign to keep hanbok from fading

Many palaces and folk villages often promise free entrance or discounted admission to people who wear hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing, during national holidays.But even the promise of freebies can’t seem to coax a large number of people to wear the old-style garments out in public.“Admission is free on the day of Chuseok and Seollal if you wear hanbok, but I don’t really see people in hanbok on those days,” said a staff member in his 60s who collects tickets at the entrance of Deoksu Palace in Jung District, central Seoul.Photos of people wearing hanbok to visit their parents are still published on the front pages of newspapers around this time of year, but adorning the outfit has become an almost obsolete custom that most Koreans only adhere to once or twice in their lifetime.Most Koreans wear the costumes on their first birthdays. After that, the next occasion on which they don the traditional clothing could be at their own weddings, about 20 or 30 years later.But some Koreans, especially those from younger generations, are conducting campaigns to change the perception of hanbok.One such organization is Hanbok Noridan, which was started in 2011 by college students.Its name roughly translates to a group of people who are committed to having fun by wearing hanbok.On the third Saturday of each odd month, the members of the group and its supporters hold an event called Kkotcheol, or “blooming subway.”They meet up for the gathering and take the subway to their destination while wearing hanbok.“We recommend that people wear hanbok from their house to the gathering place,” said Jeon Cho-hee, a college student who promotes the event.According to Jeon, they also provide members with a piece of advice.“Many feel awkward wearing hanbok in a sea of people on the subway, but we tell them to do what they usually do such as read or check their smartphones.”The first Kkotcheol event took place in September 2013 and the next one is scheduled for March 21.“This event is open to anyone. Younger students or expats are also welcome,” Jeon said.Jeon joined the club out of curiosity in 2012.“People think hanbok is beautiful but is way too uncomfortable for everyday use, but I take pride in shortening the gap between the different images hanbok has,” Jeon explained.“You have no idea how comfortable it is because the garment itself is roomy, but it still makes you look beautiful.”In addition to the “blooming subway” event, the organization held a masquerade hanbok party with the aid of the Hanbok Advancement Center late last year.The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea, better known as VANK, also initiated a campaign starting this year to raise awareness of hanbok.“I found many websites labeled hanbok as the kimono of Japan, and that was the beginning of this campaign,” said Park Ki-tae, the founder of the organization.VANK introduces five ways to promote hanbok in everyday life, including wearing it while using public transportation or visiting palaces and uploading photos of yourself in the costume onto your social media accounts.If you want to be a part of Hanbok Noridan’s campaign, visit www.hannol.org (Korean only).By Sung So-young [so@joongang.co.kr]