FEW nations have embraced the Korean Wave quite like the Philippines.
Data across social media engagement, streaming metrics, and market behavior reveal that the country ranks among the most passionate and critical K-pop markets globally. So much so that, due to the enduring popularity of historical K-dramas, for instance, Korea’s hanbok may just be next most recognizable traditional garment for Filipinos, next only to our own barong and Filipiniana.
To showcase this important thread of Korean culture, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) recently opened Hanbok, Reborn as Art. The contemporary art exhibition celebrates the beauty and importance of Korea’s traditional clothing, featuring the works of 18 contemporary Korean artists who reinterpret the hanbok in different media.
Organized under Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and presented in partnership with the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, the exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, until September 26 at the KCC in Taguig City.
‘We hope that, through this exhibition, Filipino visitors will discover in hanbok-beyond K-pop and K-dramas-the deep roots of Korean culture, the creative capacity of Korean contemporary art, and its future possibilities,’ said Myungohk Lee, director of the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art. ‘Hanbok is not a fixed heritage frozen in the past, but a living cultural asset that is constantly being reinterpreted and expanded through its encounters with contemporary art and modern culture.’
The hanbok’s origins date back thousands of years to accommodate a nomadic, horse-riding lifestyle, evolving through the centuries and reflecting the spirit of its time. The classic aesthetic recognizable today, including those seen in historical K-dramas-defined by its vibrant colors, clean lines, and a fluid, structured silhouette that gives the wearer a graceful appearance-comes primarily from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
In the exhibition, the hanbok’s patterns, colors and silhouettes are reimagined as original works in paintings, sculptures, installations, and videos. The exhibition has already traveled to China, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria, demonstrating the global appeal of Korean traditional culture reinterpreted through a contemporary lens, and is next set to travel to Malaysia this year.
According to KCC Director Myeongjin Kim, the exhibition serves as ‘a venue that introduces both the beauty of Korean traditional culture and the creativity of contemporary art through hanbok.’
He added, ‘We hope Filipino visitors will experience Korean culture in a more multidimensional way through this exhibition, and that cultural and artistic exchange between the two countries will continue to expand.’
Aside from viewing the exhibit, visitors can also look forward to an interactive kit, where they can create and bring home their own mini-hanbok. There’s also a hanbok experience corner, where they may try on a traditional hanbok every Friday starting July 24. Groups interested in a free guided tour of the exhibition may inquire through info@koreanculture.ph.