They Spent 9.6 Million Won... Controversy Over 'Wae-saeck' in Hanbok Work Uniforms
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunha] The Korea Traditional Culture Center, a public enterprise, has become embroiled in a ‘Japanese-style controversy’ over the redesigned hanbok uniforms for employees aimed at promoting hanbok culture.
On the 17th, the Korea Traditional Culture Center revealed the hanbok uniforms, stating that they were created using the black “gwae” and white background of the Taegeukgi as motifs. However, the collar of the top resembles the haneri (半衿) of a Japanese kimono, and the narrow width of the dongjeong (the cloth overlay on the jeogori collar) has led to criticisms that the design has a Japanese style.
The Korea Traditional Culture Center plans to have all employees wear the hanbok uniforms every Friday and gradually expand this practice. However, public reaction has been cold. Citizens responded with comments such as “The outfit looks like something you’d wear to order sushi” and “Even considering it as daily hanbok, it feels more Japanese than traditional Korean.”
A total of 80 hanbok uniforms were produced, costing about 9.6 million won from the center’s operating budget. This means approximately 120,000 won was spent per uniform.
An official from the center explained to Yonhap News, “We purchased products sold at daily hanbok stores, added prints to the collars, and attached brooches. During the post-processing of the prototype, the company said they could not make the dongjeong thicker, which resulted in this design.”
They added, “Since we borrowed the center’s logo colors, the overall atmosphere turned out dark.” They acknowledged the controversy, saying, “It is true that it has a strong Japanese feel, which is somewhat regrettable.”
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The Korea Traditional Culture Center, established in Jeonju, is a cultural and artistic public enterprise promoting the popularization, industrialization, and globalization of traditional Korean culture such as hanji, hansik, and hanbok.
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