Singer-actress Jun Hyo-seong celebrates Independence Movement Day with hanbok
Singer-actress Jun Hyo-seong promotes Korea's Independence Movement Day wearing a hanbok on a Times Square billboard in New York City. Courtesy of JHS Entertainment
By Dong Sun-hwa
Singer-actress Jun Hyo-seong has appeared on a billboard in New York City's Times Square, wearing a hanbok, the Korean traditional dress, to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the March 1 Korean Independence Movement Day.
The event was part of a project run by fashion brand Lakai Korea to promote hanbok through various media ― the company frequently showcases products that highlight the country's traditional beauty and history.
Jun said, “It is my honor to take part in such a meaningful project.” Courtesy of JHS Entertainment
“It is my honor to take part in such a meaningful project,” Jun said on Instagram Monday. “I am also truly thankful to those who sacrificed themselves for our country's independence movement against Japan. I will not forget them.”
Jun and Lakai's collaboration comes amid the ongoing cultural feud between Korea and China over the origin of hanbok. Recently, some Chinese internet users raised the ire of Koreans by claiming that hanbok is part of Chinese culture, originating from hanfu, the traditional clothes that Han Chinese people wore during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Jun debuted as a member of K-pop girl group Secret in 2009 with the song “I Want You Back.” The group dropped a series of hits such as “Madonna” (2010) and “Shy Boy” (2011). Jun started acting in 2013 and put out her first solo album “Good-night Kiss” in 2014.
Also to celebrate the Independence Movement Day, actress Song Hye-kyo joined forces with professor Seo Kyung-duk. The two donated 10,000 Korean and English guidebooks to the Korean Culture Center in Los Angeles to provide information about historic sites linked to the movement. Song and Seo have contributed guidebooks, among other items, to 26 historic places around the world over the past 10 years.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our historic sites are not in very good condition,” said Seo, a professor at Sungshin Women's University. “Hence, we should be more concerned about them and I hope these guidebooks can help more people learn about the history behind Korea's independence movement.”