By Honorary Reporter Alaa Atef Ebada from Egypt
Photos = Thoraia Gamal

Thoraia Gamal entered the Korean Culture and Information Service's contest "Find Korea in Your Country." In this Sept. 3 interview, she shared her experience of making her own Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and wearing it while visiting the famous Giza pyramid complex in Egypt with her family before Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).

Thoraia Gamal tours the Giza pyramid complex with her family while wearing Hanbok.

"For the photo session and video recording, I found nothing better than the Egyptian pyramids to match the idea of showing the traditions and cultures of both countries. I thought of conveying the spirit between the two countries to let everyone discover the beauty of Hanbok and my country Egypt with its ancient civilization," she said.

"Sept. 9 is both my wedding anniversary and my daughter's birthday, and it's also the beginning of Chuseok this year. I wanted to celebrate both occasions this year in a different atmosphere with my family. I love Hanbok since it's not only beautiful but also easy to wear. I like how it's made of two pieces easy to wear, and also resembles our clothes on certain Egyptian occasions. I think Hanbok represents Korean lifestyle and history. I hope to design my own Hanbok and my main goal is to wear it while I serve Egyptians Korean food at my own restaurant."

Thoraia Gamal makes a modern Hanbok at home.

Gamal said she knew Hanbok in its traditional form through dramas and its modern form through K-pop. "I was happy to wear Hanbok for the first time on May 22 during activities of Korean Culture Week at the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Egypt," she said. "The KCC director complimented me and I won first place in the small contest 'Miss Hanbok' during the week. That was when I thought of owning my Hanbok. But it's very expensive to buy it online, and this gave me the idea to design one myself."

On the reactions to her attire she received during her tour with her family around the pyramids from Egyptians and foreign tourists, she said, "Some tourists complimented me and others asked to take pictures with me. I received a lot of positive feedback and many gave me a thumbs up as a sign of admiration. Some approached me to ask what was this beautiful outfit I was wearing and where to get it."

Thoraia Gama also made her own songpyeon, or traditional Korean rice cakes eaten during Chuseok.

"As part of the Korean-style celebration with my family, I prepared songpyeon (traditional rice cakes eaten during Chuseok), which my daughter loves."

Learning Korean cooking, seeking the ingredients for it, designing her own Hanbok and going to the Giza pyramids to promote her culture and that of a country she loves are part of her dream to become a chef specializing in Korean food and own an Egyptian-Korean restaurant for Koreans visiting Egypt and Egyptians who want to try Hansik without leaving home.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.