KPC3416-3419: The style of the hanbok

Korea Post is issuing commemorative postage stamps to promote the exquisite beauty of the hanbok which the world has great admiration for and also to nurture Korea’s clothing culture.

While the hanbok has gone through a number of changes in keeping with the times, it is the only traditional attire in the world that has retained its fundamental structure. The mens hanbok is comprised of jeogori, baji, po, and gwanmo for the head. The most basic components of the womens hanbok are jeogori and chima while the full attire can be completed with the addition of the beoseon, a tie belt, and shoes.

Referring to the traditional clothing artifacts from the 16th to 20th centuries, we have created commemorative stamps that feature the transformations of the hanbok over time. As the hanbok signified the wearers social status in the 16th century, it was designed to impress, boasting both a great length and width, regardless of the wearers physique. Thus, after the Japanese invasion, the 17th century saw distinctively practical changes to the design of the hanbok. Jeogori was narrowed and shortened so that it hovered above the waist of the chima, which made it possible to produce more clothes with a lesser amount of material. In the later period of Joseon in the 19th century, through the reign of Yeongjo and Jeongjo, the design of the hanbok became more diversified while the basic structure consisted of a close-fitting jeogori and a wide bottom with the shape of a bell. A jang-ot, an outerwear worn by upper class women, acquired another use as the women began to wear it as a veil to cover their faces. On the other hand, in the 20th century, the types of jeogori were simplified, and the length of jeogori was shortened, indicating the wide popularity of such style in the early 1900s. This period featured the shortest jeogori in the history of the hanbok. In fact, it was shortened to such an extent that there appeared an article in the Jeguk Sinmun that said, (womens) Jeogori should be lengthened so as not to reveal any flesh.”

As Koreas traditional attire, the hanbok has gone through a series of transformations that reflect the prevalent living culture and circumstances as well as aesthetics of the time while still maintaining its graceful beauty and unique value. We hope that the issuance of these commemorative stamps will provide an opportunity to appreciate the importance and meaning of the hanbok.