Redefining the Hanbok: Female Politicians in South Korea

This project considers how South Korean female politicians have used hanbok, Korean traditional dress, in their political careers. I first discuss how hanbok functioned historically as a gendered garment from the start of the Joseon Dynasty. Then I explain how hanbok was worn by early female politicians in the Republic of Korea as both appropriate representation of their professional political standing and as a connection to Korean culture. I lastly remark on how the current South Korean president, Park Geun Hye, uses traditional clothing in her public appearances. I posit that over time the meaning of hanbok was actively redefined by female politicians, coming to signify sociocultural authority through its link to their public appearance and the greater significance of their social position in society. While still a gendered costume in contemporary society, it is now a marker of more general cultural heritage and is linked to a greater sense of pride in Korean culture