By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
When Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan in November 2005, one of his difficulties was about Korea's traditional costume ``hanbok,'' according to a source.
He had to wear the clothing for a photo session with other leaders but none of his staff knew how to wear the clothing the right way. But the problem was resolved somehow.
That difficulty is quite understandable considering the complicated way of wearing the traditional attire. However, good diplomats are probably required to understand their hosting country's traditional culture of the clothing.
So about 30 foreign diplomats in Seoul and their family members went to one of the most famous hanbok houses in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, last Wednesday to learn the basics of how to wear it.
The visit was part of the Korean language program provided for diplomats by the Institute of International Education (IIE) of Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
Lee In-young, a hanbok designer and owner of the boutique, explained all the symbols and meanings. For example, people have different shape and color of hanbok according to their gender, age and social status.
``In wintertime, we wear a coat called `durumagi' whose color is black for men and red for women,'' Lee said. ``It's very interesting that hanbok's every detail tells a wearer's status.''
If a skirt has embroidery in the waist part, it is for kisaeng. And a newly married woman wears a green jacket, according to Lee.
Hoida Bashir, the wife of the Sudanese Ambassador to Seoul Mohamed Abbas, said that she feels very comfortable and different in a hanbok. She especially liked the colorful feature of the dress.
She has attended the IIE's language class at beginners' level since last April, and said that she was enlarging her knowledge about Korea's clothing culture.
Nathalia So, the wife of a Mexican diplomat, echoed a similar view by saying, ``It was an unforgettable experience for me. It looks very good.''
Among the students was an expert on hanbok, Viktor Afanasenko, head of chancery at the Belarusian Embassy, who had a wedding ceremony in Belarus where his wife wore hanbok.
Afanasenko, who has attended the language class for more than a year, said that he had participated in other special cultural programs such as Korean food and wedding ceremonies, which were quite helpful for him to understand Korea.
Kim Jung-sup, the director of IIE, said that he organizes special cultural programs in order to let diplomats know more about Korea because they will ultimately be promoting Korea.
The IIE provides free language courses for diplomats and their family members every Monday and Wednesday evening with beginner's, intermediate and advanced levels. The next program will be from May 21 to July 11, and registration should be made by May 18.
For more information, call IIE at (02) 961-0081.