Hanbok Gets The Boot From Shilla

In case you haven't heard and don't get the significance of the cartoon above, here's a quick translation:
The Hotel Shilla Seoul pushes out a woman in hanbok, Korean traditional costume, saying, "No admittance! It's because hanbok is dangerous." The woman gets angry and asks, "What country's hotel is it?"

The hoo-ha started when hanbok designer Lee Hye-sun of Frozen Flower fame ( who usually goes around in hanbok) was denied entrance into the ParkView buffet restaurant at the Shilla Hotel  on the grounds that she was ...well, wearing a hanbok. Apparently compliants from some hotel guests have  prompted the hotel staff to discourage guests from wearing the national dress of Korea for fear of causing people to trip over its billowing and long hemlines.

It didn't take long for Shilla to respond to the furry of comments by enraged Netizens with a formal apology from none other than the Shilla CEO herself, Lee Boo-jin. BTW, she also happens to be the oldest daughter of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The affronted designer and the  CEO who had to do some damage control

I'm just wondering what's happened to the over- zealous  staff member simply carrying out orders who unfortunately became the one who said "Anio"  to the pride of the nation, couture-wise. OR Perhaps it was not even a Korean employee but a clueless foreign worker who didn't have enough proficiency in Korean to explain the hotel policy diplomatically.

Then again, what is really Shilla Hotel's policy on the hanbok? Wouldn't it be better for the hotel to put up notices to remind guests to be careful where they tread? For goodness's sake, surely that shouldn't even be necessary as everyone should exercise common sense and be careful when approaching someone in a hanbok. Personally I'd prefer to admire from a distance and would steer clear of any ajumma in a hanbok because I doubt I could afford to pay for her laundry bill  if I accidentally bumped into her and spilled some gochujang on her dress or worse, if I have to  pay compensation for a torn hanbok. Do you have any idea how expensive and hard to maintain these beautiful and delicate garments can be???
sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/473002.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110413000988
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2934882

Old and New On Display For G20 Summit

Caption from Chosun Ilbo: A creation made of LED displays modelled on the Cheomseongdae, a royal observatory of Silla Kingdom, at COEX, the venue of the G20 Seoul Summit.

A great example of how cutting-edge technology embraces tradition - here's the Cheomseongdae, a staple of Gyeongju's tourist attractions remade with LED screens. Participants who are unfamiliar with the pride of the Shilla Dynasty may be a bit puzzled by the structure which stands at the COEX but anyone who's paid attention to their ten-won note should appreciate the effort.

For more on Cheomseongdae, click here.

Was less enamoured with this hanbok inspired by the G20 Summit - not quibbling about the colours but the Disney-like design of the chima (skirt)  which doesn't quite have the usual understated elegance of the traditional garb of Korea.

source:s

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/11/05/2010110500847.html
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/event/g20_2010/photo.htm

Hybrid Hanbok + Batik = Hantik or Babok or Hanba?

Does this work for you?

Sorry to both the Koreans and Indonesians but I couldn't resist playing around with the names in the title for this posting. Just like the cross between the lion and tiger to get... was it the liger?... , two fashion designers  were given the challenge of coming up with hybrid designs which would incorporate elements of  the hanbok and batik.

Shin Sook-young, a designer associated with Sookhyun Hanbok said in an interview, ''I was asked to design six different pieces of the Korean traditional costume Hanbok with fabric used for making Indonesia's Batik.''
One wonders if that was really all she had to say or if she was being diplomatic and refrained from making any subjective comments.

I'd also like to know what the Indonesian designer, Oscar Lawalata,  felt about seeing his beloved batiks used as part of the skirt or chima in the hanbok. This young man, who has taken part in many fashion shows around the region,  is keen to promote Indonesian textiles but was he happy seeing them used for hanboks? How did the Koreans feel about their national dress made of batik appearing on the runway?

Hanbok with batik skirts worn by models on the right side

Some lucky Indonesians in Jakarta enjoyed the privilege of deciding such questions for themselves when they saw first-hand the results of that collaboration in a Hanbok-Batik fashion show. The opening event for the South Korea-Indonesia Week celebrations was hosted by the Council of Nation Branding  at the Ritz-Carlton ballroom on Monday 11th October.

One of Oscar Lawalata's creations has some Chinese influence as well

In addition to tranditional Hanbok and Lawalata's own designs, hanbok made from batik, and costumes from Korean TV dramas like Daejanggeum were also featured on the runway. Have tried to look for reviews of the show but have not found anything as yet. Personally, I'm not comfortable with the results - the earthiness of batik doesn't quite suit the hanbok which has to convey a sense of lightness and ethereal delicacy given its already puffed-up outlines. But then again, I shouldn't comment on the basis of two pictures. If anyone out there did take pics of the show please post them somewhere on the Net and send me the links so that I can get a closer look and make a more informed decision.

Check out Oscar Lawalata's website. I'd do the same for Ms Shin except that I couldn't find on her on the Net, believe it or not!

For another posting on another Korean designer, click here.

sources:
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=50539
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15463
http://berita.liputan6.com/sosbud/201010/300800/Festival.Korea.Kedua.Digelar
http://koreaindonesiaweek.com/
http://iheartme.onsugar.com/fashion-week-Oscar-Lawalata-2951812
http://www.oscarlawalata.net/philosophy.html
http://www.arirang.co.kr/Player/Player_Script.asp?vSeq=55968&code=News

Chuseok – The best of times Part 2

Here are some reasons why Chuseok is the best of times for visitors to the ROK:

1. Ample photo opportunities as many children and ladies are dressed up in beautiful jewel tones of the hanbok.

2. If you hate city crowds, this is your chance to cruise along on public buses and you don’t have to jostle for space in the trains. The capital almost becomes a ghost-town as most Seoulites have gone back to their ancestral homes.

3. The museums and other tourist attractions usually have special concerts and activities that feature traditional games and  food during the long weekend. Still clueless about where to go and what to do? Click here.

4. It’s a great time to see Korean families in a relaxed frame of mind enjoying things together outdoors.

5. The TV stations usually broadcast special programs so you’re more likely to see your favourite Hallyu star in some game show or concert. Click here for more if you're planning to be a couch potato in Seoul.

Next posting: What I'd really like to ask about Chuseok
Pics taken at Namsangol Hanok