'Cheongwadae Photo Shoot Embarrassment' Cultural Heritage Administration Cancels Gucci Gyeongbokgung Fashion Show

Planned Event at Gyeongbokgung Geunjeongjeon in November Recently Canceled
Good Opportunity to Promote Gyeongbokgung Globally but Seems to Have Felt Burdened

At Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 26th, Geunjeongjeon is illuminated by lights during the 'Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour.' Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Cultural Heritage Administration decided to cancel a fashion show planned to be held with the world-renowned luxury brand Gucci at Gyeongbokgung Palace. This decision appears to be influenced by recent controversies surrounding the use of the Blue House.

According to the fashion industry on the 29th, the Cultural Heritage Administration and Gucci Korea had planned to hold the "Gucci Cosmogony Fashion Show in Seoul Gyeongbokgung" around Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace on November 1st but later canceled it. "Cosmogony" is a new collection presented by Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele. As the term means "the origin of the universe," it is inspired by mythological stories contained in constellations.

The Cultural Heritage Administration was preparing the event after receiving approval. According to the minutes of the Cultural Heritage Committee meeting, Gucci applied for the use of the venue, stating, "We will widely promote the historical value of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where world-class astronomy was studied, and the theme of the fashion show inspired by astronomy both domestically and internationally." The Cultural Heritage Committee, after consulting experts, made a "conditional approval" decision with conditions such as strengthening the value of the historical and cultural heritage of Gyeongbokgung and ensuring thorough verification of historical facts.

On the 26th, participants are enjoying their time strolling through the ancient palace during the 'Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour' held at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

Gucci planned to prevent damage to cultural assets by holding the event mainly in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon and using the haenggak (a corridor-like building built to the left and right of the main hall in palaces) as a runway for models. However, the Cultural Heritage Administration, embarrassed by a recent hanbok fashion photo shoot at the Blue House, suddenly canceled the event, causing the plan to fall through. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated that while it was a good opportunity to promote Gyeongbokgung Palace globally, it was concerned about unintentionally sparking controversy.

Gucci had previously showcased a collection at Castel del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Italy, in May. Geunjeongjeon is the central building of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where state ceremonies were held and foreign envoys were received during the Joseon Dynasty. It is said that no fashion brand events have been held there before.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.