By Yoon Hee Young and Joung Haseung
Gyeongju | April 9, 2021
Video = Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture's official YouTube channel

A long robe worn over upper and lower garments, a skirt coming up to the chest and a belt tied around the waist. 

These descriptions are quite different from those of the more commonly acknowledged Hanbok; instead, they describe the traditional clothing of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, offers a venue to appreciate this unfamiliar but attractive traditional attire and try it on.

"2021 Hanbok Culture Week in Gyeongju," to run through April 18, is part of a nationwide event highlighting the nation's traditional costumes hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in seven domestic cities. The Gyeongju showcase presents the beauty of traditional Silla wear that is considerably distinct from ordinary Hanbok.

Hanbok, with its short jeogori (upper garment) and long goreum (jacket string), appeared during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Silla attire includes jeogori, skirt or pants and po (outer garment). The top garment comes down to the knees and uses a fabric belt instead of a goreum to customize fit.

The Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture said, "The event was held to promote the beauty of Silla attire, which is very different from the more commonly known Hanbok," adding, "Various forms of entertainment and spectacles are presented ranging from replicas of ancient Silla attire to recreations of clothes by modern designers."

The keyword for this year's event is "Seorabeol," or the Silla capital. The event consists of four categories: the exhibition "See Seorabeol"; the interactive clothing program "Wear Seorabeol"; the online fashion show "Walk Seorabeol"; and the Hanbok photo and children's painting contest "Hold Seorabeol."

The exhibition hall for "See Seorabeol" at Gyeongju Arts Center shows the clothing discovered through murals during the Three Kingdoms period (37 B.C.-A.D. 668). With a concrete hierarchical structure, the kingdom featured a diversity of clothing differentiated by status and occupation. The attire displayed ranges from those of kings and queens, the royal family and aristocrats to those of commoners, monks and soldiers.

Further inside the hall stand modern interpretations of Silla clothing by young designers. Their works present a modernized sense with a bright impression using colors and unique designs using frills or lacy textile.

The "Wear Seorabeol" program allows visitors to wear Silla clothing at the center and on Hwangridan-gil Street. The costume lineup was produced by ten Hanbok designers with more than 30 years of experience at traditional markets in Gyeongju.

Kang Mi-ja, CEO of the Hanbok custom tailor Geumlim Judan, said, "The costumes are based on the designs and colors of what officials wore during the reign of Silla King Beopheung (r. 514-540)," adding, "Applying Silla's unique patterns discovered at Cheonmachong Tomb to fabrics brings out the original beauty of the kingdom's attire."

Visitors can try on for free Silla clothing designed by artisans and young designers at Gyeongju Arts Center as well as on Hwangridan-gil Street, where Hanok (traditional architecture) cafes and restaurants abound, through Hanbok rental companies.

Choi Sung-hye, CEO of the Hanbok rental company Chaevidam, said, "Silla attire features colorful accessories and voluminous fabrics," adding, "Many foreign tourists like to tap the back of their clothes with their fingertips and say 'Ahem,' just like characters in Korean historical dramas."

A visitor to Hwangridan-gil, Son Jin-ha, said, "Long robes look unique and classy," while Japanese national Towa Kinjo said, "Hanbok commonly seen and worn on the streets in Korea is colorful and ample, but Silla attire has a more historical feel."

"Walk Seorabeol" is an online fashion show for Silla attire featuring leading historical sites including Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Daereungwon Tomb Complex and Woljeonggyo Bridge. It is available for viewing on the foundation's official YouTube channel. 


hyyoon@korea.kr