Local council’s hanbok tradition draws backlash in Korea

Members of the Jeonju City Council attend their first meeting of the year wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing. Courtesy of Jeonju City Council

A debate has erupted over the Jeonju City Council’s tradition of wearing hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, to its opening session, with critics dismissing it as a "fashion show" that distracts from the city's deepening financial crisis.

On Jan. 29, all 35 council members and key officials — including Mayor Woo Beom-ki — opened the year’s first plenary session in colorful traditional robes. The event is rooted in a 2016 ordinance aimed at highlighting Jeonju’s identity as a hub of traditional culture and raising citizen interest by showcasing the attire in the public sphere.

The council spends about 3.6 million won ($2,450) a year to rent the outfits, or 80,000 won per person.

Jeonju Mayor Woo Beom-ki poses for a commemorative photo while wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean attire, after attending the Jeonju City Council's extraordinary session on Jan. 29. Captured from Woo's social media

However, the timing and tone have drawn sharp criticism. The festive attire contrasted with an agenda centered on Jeonju’s 600 billion won municipal debt and stalled compensation for the canceled Jonggwangdae redevelopment project.

Critics said the costumes diluted the seriousness of the proceedings, calling the event a case of “a tail wagging the dog.” Reports that several lawmakers paid out of pocket for professional hair and makeup added fuel to the backlash, prompting claims that the chamber had turned into a “block party” rather than a place of serious policymaking.

"It feels like a budget-wasting fashion show," one critic said, reflecting growing public skepticism about whether a one-day costume event meaningfully promotes cultural heritage.

Council Chairman Nam Kwan-woo defended the practice, saying renting was the most practical approach.

“We considered having lawmakers purchase their own hanbok, but storage issues and the uncertainty of reelection made that unrealistic,” Nam said. “Many members also visit their constituencies in hanbok after the session to meet residents.”

Experts suggest the city reassess whether one-off displays by politicians genuinely promote traditional attire to the public, calling for policy changes over symbolic gestures — such as aligning the dress code with the agenda's tone or prioritizing public engagement.

“If wearing hanbok remains a one-off, show-off event, its power to enhance the city’s image is limited,” said Choi Young-ki, a tourism management professor at Jeonju University.

Choi proposed initiatives such as designating Jungang-dong’s Wedding Street as a dedicated “hanbok street,” collaborating with master artisans or developing tourism programs that include “personal color” analysis using traditional fabrics.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.