"Why on earth come to Korea and do this?" ... Chinese Man in Hanfu Says He'll Promote Chinese Culture at Gyeongbokgung

Professor Seo: "Respect for other countries' cultures is essential"
Criticism also voiced in China

A video of a Chinese influencer wearing hanfu, a traditional Chinese outfit, at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul and saying, "Let's introduce Chinese culture to the world," has sparked controversy online.

On October 17, Professor Seo Kyungduk of Sungshin Women's University expressed concern on social media about Chinese influencers wearing hanfu at Gyeongbokgung Palace and posting videos of themselves there.

A video posted by a Chinese man dressed in hanfu shows him at Gyeongbokgung Palace saying, "I've come to Korea. Let's introduce Chinese culture to the world." Professor Seo criticized the video, saying, "People can wear their country's traditional clothing while traveling in South Korea, but foreign tourists could misunderstand what they see. Hanbok and Chinese hanfu are clearly different garments, but foreign visitors could mistake hanfu for traditional Korean clothing."

A Chinese influencer promotes Chinese culture at Gyeongbokgung Palace while wearing "hanfu." Screenshot from Sungshin Women's University Professor Seo Kyungduk's social media.

He voiced particular concern about making videos of people in hanfu touring Gyeongbokgung Palace and posting them on social media. Photos and videos of people in hanfu visiting and filming at the palace are also being posted on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu. Professor Seo said, "Chinese influencers should stop doing this at Gyeongbokgung Palace," adding that people need to show respect for other countries' histories and cultures.

The influencer was reportedly stopped by palace staff. Under the visitor rules set by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, visitors may be denied entry if their clothing or other conduct could interfere with visits or the preservation and management of national heritage.

This is not the first time Chinese influencers wearing hanfu at Gyeongbokgung Palace have sparked controversy. In August 2026, photos and videos of a Chinese influencer strolling around the palace in hanfu also drew criticism on social media. At the time, Professor Seo said, "The bigger problem is that Chinese influencers make videos of themselves walking around Gyeongbokgung Palace in hanfu and post them on their social media," adding, "Chinese influencers should have 'global manners' and learn to respect other countries' histories and cultures first." Some people in China also criticized the behavior, asking, "Why wear Chinese clothing at another country's historic site and cause confusion?"

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