Join the Campaign to Wear Our Beautiful Hanbok the Right Way

- Launch ceremony for the “Campaign for Proper Hanbok Wearing” to be held at Gyeongbokgung Palace on October 19, with 25 nearby hanbok rental shops and 17 hanbok content creators participating

- Exhibition and guidance on wearing traditional hanbok to begin at Gyeongbokgung Palace on the first day of “Hanbok Culture Week” (October 19)

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), together with the Korea Heritage Service (Administrator HUH Min, KHS) and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (President KIM Kyung-bae, KCDF), will hold a launch ceremony for the “Campaign for Proper Hanbok Wearing” on October 19 (Monday) at 11:00 a.m. near Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace. MCST First Vice Minister KIM Young-soo will attend the ceremony, joined by representatives from 25 hanbok rental shops near Gyeongbokgung Palace and 17 hanbok content creators (influencers), to mark the launch of the campaign and promote the proper wearing of hanbok.

Renting and trying on hanbok has become a popular activity among domestic and international visitors to Korea’s royal palaces, giving more people opportunities to experience hanbok. However, concerns have consistently been raised that some rental hanbok do not reflect the distinctive styles and features of traditional hanbok. To address these concerns, the MCST is launching this campaign on the occasion of “Hanbok Culture Week 2026” (October 19–25) to introduce tourists to the unique beauty and value of hanbok and promote the proper wearing of hanbok. The Ministry plans to provide tourists with accurate information on traditional hanbok and expand opportunities for them to experience hanbok firsthand.

25 Participating Hanbok Rental Shops near Gyeongbokgung Palace to Promote Traditional Hanbok

Hanbok Quiz and Exhibitions at Gyeongbokgung Palace to Showcase the Beauty and Value of Hanbok

Following the launch ceremony, on-site promotional activities will be conducted to inform domestic and international tourists visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace about the purpose of the campaign and encourage their participation. The 25 hanbok rental shops near Gyeongbokgung Palace will distribute “Hanbok Story,” a multilingual booklet introducing the history, components, and proper way of wearing hanbok, along with QR code guides, to help visitors to the shops understand the value of traditional hanbok and encourage them to choose it. The KCDF’s Hanbok Advancement Center will run educational programs for hanbok rental shop staff on proper hanbok-wearing practices, helping them enhance their understanding of and expertise in hanbok. The 17 hanbok content creators will promote a culture of wearing hanbok properly through social media.

In addition, the MCST and KHS will visit participating hanbok rental shops to listen to feedback from the field, explore ways to promote the proper wearing of hanbok, and encourage more rental shops to offer traditional hanbok. The campaign will continue after Hanbok Culture Week, with plans to expand the number of participating businesses.

Near Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace, a variety of exhibitions and hands-on programs will be offered to help domestic and international visitors explore the history and culture of hanbok in an accessible and engaging way. A “Hanbok Quiz” on the components, names, and ways of wearing hanbok will be held, along with an exhibition showcasing royal court hanbok and hanbok featured in Korean dramas. The exhibition invites visitors to explore the distinctive features of royal court hanbok and the diverse styles seen in Korean dramas, offering an engaging introduction to the beauty and cultural value of hanbok. Notably, the exhibition and promotional booths will operate on an ongoing basis starting from the first day of Hanbok Culture Week (October 19).

Tourists Wearing Traditional Hanbok Properly to Receive Special Discounts at 27 Businesses, Including the National Museum of Korea’s MU:DS and Anyoung Insadong

To help tourists become more familiar with hanbok and feel comfortable wearing it, a special discount program, “Hanbok Pass Goods,” will also be offered. “Hanbok Pass Goods” provides discounts at cultural facilities and partner stores to tourists who properly wear traditional hanbok. Tourists who rent and wear traditional hanbok from participating rental shops will receive a “Hanbok Pass” norigae (traditional ornamental pendant) souvenir. By presenting the norigae at 27 businesses, including the National Museum of Korea’s MU:DS (until October 25), stores at Anyoung Insadong (until December 31), and matthew chang perfumes Anguk store (until December 31), they can receive discounts of 10–20%.