'Hanbok Culture Week' Runs Through Oct. 25; Hanbok Exhibitions and Performances at 410+ Venues in Korea and Abroad

Opening event at the National Museum of Korea on October 21, Hanbok Day
Kim Yuna performance and hanbok fashion show featuring five brands
50% admission discount at Lotte World for visitors wearing hanbok

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, will hold “2026 Hanbok Culture Week” from October 19 to 25 at major locations in Korea and abroad.

Now in its ninth year, Hanbok Culture Week is an annual event held around October 21, Hanbok Day, to promote the beauty and value of hanbok and encourage people to wear and enjoy it in their daily lives. This year, a variety of programs, including exhibitions, hands-on activities and performances, will be presented at more than 410 participating venues in Korea and abroad, including the National Museum of Korea and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

On October 21, Hanbok Day, the “2026 Hanbok Culture Week Opening Commemorative Event” will take place at the Open Plaza of the National Museum of Korea. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism will present commendations and certificates to five people who have contributed to the preservation and development, popularization and industrialization of hanbok culture.

The Hanbok Culture Contribution Award will go to Kwon Youngsook, professor emerita at Pusan National University, while the Hanbok Person of the Year Award will be presented to Lee Hyemi, CEO of Saimdang by Lee Hyemi. The Young Hanbok Designer Award will go to Jung Hyejin of Songhwa by Jung, and the award for the institution with the most hanbok workwear adoptions will go to the Global Institute for Transferring Skills of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. The grand prize in the Hanbok Design Project Contest will go to designer Kim Soyeon.

Following the awards ceremony, a hanbok fashion show and celebratory performances will be held under the theme “Hanbok Embracing Light.” Inspired by the beauty of mother-of-pearl, which shimmers in a range of colors depending on the colors and light of hanbok, the show will offer a modern reinterpretation of the aesthetic of traditional hanbok.

Kim Yuna, vocalist of the band Jaurim, will open the celebratory performances. Five hanbok brands—Geumuijae, Seodamhwa, Sillosilk, Orimi and Hanboklin—will take part in the fashion show. The traditional performing arts troupe Yeonhui Connect I-eul will bring the show to a close with pungmul, lion dancing and a large-flag performance.

During the event, a “How to Wear Hanbok Properly” campaign and an exhibition of traditional hanbok will be held at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul to promote the distinctive beauty of hanbok and the proper way to wear it. Regional Hanbok Culture Creation Centers in Gangneung, Jeonju, Busan, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeollanam-do will also run programs linked to local cultural resources. Jeonju will offer hanbok accessory-making activities and a hanbok festival, while Jeollanam-do will host exhibitions and hands-on programs featuring natural dyeing.

Special programs selected through a nationwide open call will also be held. Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul will present “A Young Scholar’s Entrance Ceremony,” based on the Joseon-era Crown Prince’s entrance ceremony, while Daejeon will offer exhibitions, hands-on activities and educational programs under the theme “Hanbok Crosses the Line.”

Discounts will also be available to visitors wearing hanbok. Lotte World will offer 50% off admission through October 31, while Seoul Sky will offer a 35% discount over the same period. The National Gugak Center will offer 50% off admission to its Saturday Masterpiece Performance on October 24. In addition, cultural and arts institutions and tourism and leisure facilities across the country will offer benefits such as free admission, discounts and hands-on activities.

A variety of events will also take place overseas during Hanbok Culture Week. At major locations in countries including Canada, Japan and Denmark, visitors will be able to try on hanbok and take part in lessons on hanbok etiquette, giving local residents the opportunity to experience hanbok and Korean traditional culture.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyeong said, “Hanbok is a precious cultural heritage that has been part of our lives for many generations, and it remains a cultural asset that continues to evolve in new ways today. I hope this Hanbok Culture Week will be an opportunity to reflect on the efforts of those who have preserved hanbok traditions and encourage more people to wear and enjoy hanbok in their daily lives.”

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