By Priscilla Osaje
The Korea Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), says ‘Hanbok’, one of Korea’s rich cultural attire, “pays respect and indicate the gender and social status of the wearer”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hanbok is a traditional style of clothing, characterised by a long high-waisted shirt worn in Korea for formal occasions.
Ms. Jennifer Ezeonyeasi, the embassy’s culture event administrative officer, said during the public exhibition in Abuja that the hanbok has 10 basic traditional colours “to show respect and indicate the gender and social status of the wearer”.
Ezeonyeasi said the event was also aimed at exposing Nigerians to the Korean food box Hansik, and Hanguel, the country’s language.
The culture administrator said the beauty of hanbok was enhanced by its patterns, while the laid over back slits helped the wearer to maintain dignity and elegance when riding a horse or sitting down.
According to her, Dopos, a kind of hanbok, were normally worn by upper class men as ceremonial suits and by confucian scholars as uniforms.
“Dangui also called Dangjeoksam, is a formal dress for small ceremonies that was worn by women of noble families.
“It retains the beauty of flowing curves, reaches the knees and features a white cloth referred to as ‘Geodeulji’ attached to the ends of its sleeves.
“Daphos are worn by the king and functionaries inside their official uniforms, or worn over outwear by upper class men.
” Others like Durumagi, Jeogori which men pair with Baeja or Magoja and Baek-il are worn on 100 days after the birth of a child,” she added.
She added that ‘Chima’ happened to be a hanbok for women that denoted social statuses or classes of their wearers among others.
“Some attire like wonsam is worn as court ceremonial attire and colours representing the wearers’ ranks; while Chamchoe-bok is a mourning attire.
“Koreans are expected to wear different types of mourning attire or sangbok, depending on whose death.
“The materials and the sewing methods used, represented the wearer’s social status and his or her degree of kinship with the deceased,” she said.
Also speaking, Ms Lee Hyerim, KCCN Culture Event Officer, said the hanbok told us about the past of a particular person as regards to being royalty or a commoner.
Hyerim added that the event would expose participants to the Korea hanbok designed for different occasions.
Some of the participants, who spoke with NAN expressed excitement over their experiences of knowing different types of hanbok for various occasion.
Mr Joshua Anthony, said the Korea culture was quite different from Nigeria culture.
According to him, the programme has exposed him to diverse Korea culture such as their attires, food and ornaments.
” The attires, both for men and women are unique and very easy to put on, compared to some African attires that are a bit complex.”
Another participant, Ms Ogechi Nwake, who expressed her love for the Korean beautiful traditional attires, appreciated the fact that the Koreans were proud of their cultural heritage by showcasing them.
” It is an educative experience, because I have learnt many things especially knowing about hanbok and ornaments of Korea.
“I commend the KCCN for their tireless efforts in ensuring that people know about their culture,” she said.