Custom of Korean costume: traditional knowledge, skills and social practices in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Inscribed in 2024 (19.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
© RYU Tok IN, CHOE Un Hye, JO II Gyong, DPR of Korea, 2023 The Korean costume is an outfit comprised of a jacket and a woman’s skirt or men’s trousers. It is completed with seasonal overclothes, including an overcoat and a waistcoat, and may include other accessories such as a breast ribbon. The costume is created using natural fabrics such as silk, ramie and cotton. The related knowledge and skills involve design, cutting, needlework, embroidery or drawing, printing of geometric and natural patterns, and decoration with accessories and precious metals or stones. Often referenced in art and literature, the Korean costume is used on many occasions, including birthdays, weddings, festivals and holidays. Women are the leading bearers and practitioners devoted to the costume creation and transmission in shops, within families and in the fields of education and research. Generally, a chief craftswoman coordinates cooperation between craftspeople. The related knowledge and skills, including ways of wearing, keeping and mending the costume, are transmitted within families. In Korean costume shops, knowledge and skills regarding design, cutting, sewing and embroidery are transmitted from experts to apprentices through demonstration and hands-on training. The element is also transmitted through media, during cultural events and in schools. The Korean costume brings people together, instilling a sense of cultural belonging, identity and continuity.
