Types and Features of Hanbok

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The basic composition of hanbok (jeogori, chima, baji, durumagi)
Hanbok is basically composed of a jeogori (jacket) and a bottom garment; women wear a jeogori with a chima (skirt), and men wear a jeogori with baji (trousers, also called goui), topped with a durumagi (an overcoat) when going out. The jeogori consists of a collar (git), a tie (goreum), sleeves, and other elements, and its length and width have changed over the eras.
The difference between men's and women's hanbok
Women's hanbok is characterized by a full skirt and a short jeogori that emphasize graceful curves, while men's hanbok, worn as a jeogori with baji, emphasizes ease of movement. For both men and women, wearing a durumagi when going out was considered proper etiquette.
A brief introduction to hanbok's evolution by status and era
During the Three Kingdoms period, relatively simple forms of hanbok were worn regardless of social status, but by the Joseon dynasty, strict restrictions on fabric, color, and decoration arose based on social status and class, leading to greater variety in hanbok styles. Over time, there were also fashion-driven changes, such as the jeogori's length becoming shorter or longer.
The difference between saenghwal hanbok and traditional hanbok
Saenghwal hanbok ("everyday hanbok") is a modernized garment that preserves the beauty of traditional hanbok while enhancing mobility and practicality, characterized by changes such as using buttons or zippers instead of a goreum tie, or reducing its width. Traditional hanbok, by contrast, is worn in a form closer to its original style on formal occasions such as holidays or ceremonies.
Representative occasions for wearing hanbok (holidays, dol celebrations, etc.)
Hanbok is mainly worn to mark important life moments, such as holidays like Seollal and Chuseok, a baby's dol (first-birthday) celebration, weddings, traditional wedding ceremonies, or a 60th-birthday celebration (hwangap). In recent years, renting hanbok to wear at ancient palaces or hanok villages has also become a popular experience among tourists.
The meaning behind hanbok colors and patterns
The five traditional colors (obangsaek — red, blue, yellow, white, and black) used in hanbok reflect a traditional color philosophy rooted in yin-yang and five-elements thought, and a child's colorfully striped jeogori is made by combining several colors, carrying a wish for good health, longevity, and fortune.

Hanbok: traditional attire embodying Korean beauty

Hanbok is Korea's traditional attire, notable for its harmony of curves and color, and while its form has changed with the times, it has preserved its distinctive beauty. Today, it is being reinterpreted in various ways, not only for holidays and ceremonies but also as everyday fashion.

Chuseok, a representative holiday for wearing hanbok

If you're curious about the origin and customs of Chuseok, one of the representative occasions for wearing hanbok, take a look at our guide to Korean Chuseok customs and etiquette as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to wear traditional beoseon (socks) with hanbok?

To fully observe traditional formality, wearing beoseon is the principle, but in recent years, it's also common to substitute white socks or stockings for the sake of comfort and ease of movement.

Is it improper to wear saenghwal hanbok on a holiday?

No — in recent years, wearing saenghwal hanbok for its comfort has become more common, and it's generally not an issue unless the occasion calls for very strict formality.