TRADITIONAL KOREAN CLOTHES

Clothes worn in Korea are quite similar to those worn in Western countries, although styles tend to be more conservative and a bit more sophisticated than in the West. At the time of the 1988 Olympics one almost never saw shorts being worn outside of one's immediate neighborhood, but now it seems quite the fashion for younger women and men. To be on the conservative side, expatriates may still want to confine their wearing of shorts to their homes and would not want to wear them to a Korean's home or when Korean guests were expected. It is not uncommon when dropping in at a Korean's home to wait a few minutes before being shown in while the host or hostess quickly changes into more appropriate attire.

Since Korea has four distinct seasons, you will need clothes for the full range of climates. Heavy coats, boots and gloves are necessary in the winter, and Korea's hot, humid summer requires lightweight clothes.

Fortunately, it is possible to buy most articles of clothing in Korea for somewhat less than one would pay back home. This is especially true for smaller people. Children' s clothes in particular are reasonably priced, comfortable and adorable. A few shopping areas sell clothes which have been made for export, including larger-sized ones. There is also an abundance of dressmakers and tailors to custom-make your clothes. Some people have a 'sewing lady' visit them once a week to do custom sewing and mending.

Two items expatriates may have more difficulty buying in Korea are underwear and shoes. Koreans require smaller sizes than many Westerners, so the latter are often forced to select from a very limited range. In the case of shoes, there are stores that will custom-make them, but it is still not easy to get a good.

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Nowadays in the streets of Korean cities you can seldom see the people wearing the traditional costumes. Most people, especially women, wear both Korean and Western clothing depending on generation, convenience, and the occasion. Some women, espe­cially in the countryside, wear only Korean dresses, others wear them only for special occasions. Fewer city men wear Korean clothing, although many elderly men do so all the time and many young men do so for special occasions and for relaxing at home.

The traditional dress of men consists of roughly four different parts; the jacket (Chogori), trousers (Pachi), vest (Chokki), and topcoat (Turumaki). In addition to the parts mentioned, some people wear a jacket cover (Magoja) which is worn when one is not using a topcoat. The women's dress consists of a blouse (Chogori), skirt (Ch'ima) and topcoat (Turumaki).

Both men and women wore the rubber shoes still often seen in rural areas, the women's shoes narrow and canoelike, the man's broader. These, however, are an innovation of the 20th century. Before this, straw sandals or cloth slippers prevailed. Today, leather occidental-type shoes, with high heels for young women, are commonly seen in larger cities.

As to hair styles, unmarried men in olden times wore queues or pigtails while married men wore a topknot (9angtu). These are now actually never seen. But the women's traditional coiffeur, with the hair pulled back and knotted severely or held by a large decorative pin is still popular.

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Date: 2015-12-17; view: 979