The talk "Wearing Hanbok Together" hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration is held on June 28 at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

The western U.S. state of Arizona, renowned for its natural landscapes including the Grand Canyon, has designated Hanbok Day.

Yonhap News of Korea on July 26 said the state government decided to celebrate Hanbok Day every year on Oct. 21.

Arizona is the second American state after New Jersey to do this.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a proclamation saying Hanbok is part of Korean traditional culture, society and history that span over 2,000 years.

He said Oct. 21 was selected to mark the occasion as Hanbok Day was declared in Korea on the same date in 1996.

Earlier on May 26, the city of Mesa, Arizona, designated Oct. 21 as Hanbok Day.

Mesa is near the Arizona capital of Phoenix as the third-largest city in the state with a population of approximately 500,000.

Mesa Mayor John Giles said in his city's proclamation that the designation of Hanbok Day acknowledges "the strength of the Korean community and our special relationship with the Republic of Korea for the past years.

He said the city made Oct. 21 Hanbok Day to match the same day in Korea.

The proclamation also said "the origin of the Hanbok can be traced back to 2333 B.C., when the legendary god-king, Dangun, founded the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon."

Four cities in the U.S. now mark Hanbok Day: Mesa, Arizona; Tenafly and Closter, New Jersey; and Aurora, Colorado.

jihlee08@korea.kr