A new legal framework has been put in place to systematically promote hanbok, a signature cultural asset tied to Korean history and identity.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 31st that the National Assembly passed a bill to enact the Hanbok Culture Industry Promotion Act.
The measure marks the culmination of efforts that began with its first proposal in the 19th National Assembly in 2013, after repeated introductions and expirations. The ministry said it establishes a foundation for promoting hanbok culture and developing the related industry.
Hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, has evolved over centuries alongside daily life. But as Western-style living spread, it gradually fell out of everyday use.
In recent years, however, younger people have helped popularize modernized “everyday hanbok,” and the hanbok rental business has grown, reshaping the market. Calls have increased for policies that preserve hanbok’s value while integrating contemporary design so it can take root as part of daily culture.
Under the new law, the government must draw up a five-year master plan for promoting the hanbok culture industry and prepare annual implementation plans. It also requires regular surveys of industry conditions to strengthen policy continuity and reflect on-the-ground needs.
The act also sets out a basis for support including training specialized workers, identifying and awarding best practices, backing hanbok education, assisting startups and production, and promoting research and development. It designates Oct. 21 each year as Hanbok Day and calls for that week to be observed as Hanbok Culture Week to help build public interest.
The ministry said it will use the law as a springboard to push policies aimed at making hanbok more common in daily life, expanding the industry and promoting it overseas. To encourage everyday wear, it plans to expand public-participation events tied to major occasions such as holidays and Hanbok Culture Week, and to strengthen cooperation with cultural institutions including national and public museums and local hanbok creative centers to offer a wider range of programs linked to hanbok.
To support industrial growth, it will expand its “Hanbok Wave” project to help companies find new sales channels, promoting hanbok developed in collaboration with Korean Wave stars through major digital billboards and social media. It also plans to run a “Business Day” at the Hanbok Shop event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in August and broaden cooperation with the industry, including improving access to hanbok workwear through online platforms.
For global outreach, the ministry said it will pursue international promotion tied to major fashion weeks, aiming to enter overseas fashion markets. It also plans hanbok experiences and fashion shows at major international events such as the Olympics and Korea Season to showcase hanbok on the global stage.
The law will take effect one year after it is promulgated. The ministry said it will broadly gather opinions from relevant sectors as it drafts the enforcement decree.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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