First Lady Kim Hye-kyung Appears at Italy's "Hanbok Fashion Show" ... "Strengthening Friendship Between the Two Countries"

Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong of the Presidential Office announced in a written briefing that First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who is on a state visit to Italy with President Lee Jae-myung, attended a Hanbok fashion show at the National Academy of Rome on the 12th (local time).

The event, held under the theme "The Beauty of Hanbok Beyond Time," aimed to highlight the value and beauty of Hanbok and to promote cultural exchange and friendship between Korea and Italy. First Lady Kim wore a gray-toned Hanbok. Deputy Spokesperson Ahn explained, "It reflects the idea that the understated elegance of Hanbok and the restrained aesthetics of Italian art can harmonize with each other."

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who made a state visit to Italy, are giving remarks at the creative Hanbok fashion show held at the Rome National Academy of Fine Arts on the 12th (local time). 2026.6.13 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap News

In her remarks, First Lady Kim stated, "It is especially meaningful to be able to share the charm and allure of Hanbok here in Rome, a city that loves art and fashion. I am very excited and looking forward to seeing what kind of beauty will emerge from the encounter between Korea's traditional Hanbok, with its long history, and the imagination of Italy." She also expressed her hope that "this fashion show will bring Korea and Italy even closer together and serve as an opportunity to deepen the friendship between our two countries."

Before the fashion show, First Lady Kim held a meeting with professors and students from the Fashion Department of the National Academy of Rome, as well as Hanbok designers Kim Hye-soon and Kim Ye-ji. During the meeting, she viewed works that had not yet been presented at the fashion show and listened to explanations about the meaning and creative process behind the pieces.

First Lady Kim commented, "Encountering these wonderful creations, I could truly feel the students' remarkable creativity and bold imagination. Above all, I was deeply impressed by how they interpreted the unique beauty of Hanbok in new ways through their own sensibility and perspective." She added, "I hope this will be a precious moment for our two countries to understand each other more deeply and to foster a warm friendship, with Hanbok serving as a bridge."

Concluding her schedule, First Lady Kim remarked, "I was able to confirm that the beauty and creativity of Hanbok inspire people across borders. I hope that the inspiration of Hanbok, which has blossomed beyond time, will develop into a cultural bridge connecting Korea and Italy in new ways and further enrich the exchange between our two countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.