Recently, Chinese influencers have been posting photos and videos of themselves wearing Hanfu, a traditional Chinese garment, at popular tourist sites in South Korea, including Gyeongbokgung Palace. Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University pointed out that this could lead to misunderstandings among foreign tourists regarding Hanbok, the traditional Korean attire.
On August 22, Professor Seo stated on his social media, "I have received numerous reports about Chinese influencers parading in traditional Chinese clothing at Gyeongbokgung. There is an alarming number of videos on the global video platform TikTok claiming that Hanbok originated from Chinese Hanfu."
He emphasized, "Hanbok is a traditional Korean outfit that is distinctly a two-piece garment, as seen in murals from the Goguryeo period, while Hanfu is a one-piece garment, making them fundamentally different."
Professor Seo also highlighted that the Oxford English Dictionary clearly defines Hanbok as 'traditional Korean clothing.'
He noted that some Chinese internet users have been asserting for years online that Hanbok is derived from Hanfu. He referenced a controversial instance where the Chinese portal Baidu Encyclopedia described Hanbok as 'Zhuang nationality clothing.'
According to Professor Seo, the greater issue lies not in wearing Hanfu at Gyeongbokgung but in creating and disseminating this content on social media. He warned, "Our Hanbok and China's Hanfu are distinctly different garments, which could lead to misunderstandings among foreign tourists."
He added that some Chinese internet users have continued to claim that Hanbok originated from Hanfu, perpetuating what is referred to as 'cultural appropriation.' He also mentioned instances where online shopping platforms in China have categorized Hanbok and Hanfu together, causing further controversy.
Professor Seo remarked, "This is not the first time such incidents have occurred at Gyeongbokgung. Chinese influencers need to develop a 'global etiquette' that respects the history and culture of other countries."
He concluded by stating, "We should not only criticize the distortion of Chinese culture but also take a greater interest in Hanbok and actively promote it worldwide."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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