"Covered in Flags of South Korea, Isn't This Bizarre?" Unidentifiable 'Hanbok' Appears at Saudi Festival

[Financial News] Recently, a 'Korea Village' was set up in the center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), sparking controversy as an unidentifiable version of Hanbok appeared.
Seo Kyoung-duk, a Korean culture promotion expert and professor at Sungshin Women's University, stated on the 9th, "After receiving reports from local Koreans and checking videos on social media, I found that women dressed in bizarre forms of Hanbok were present at the event."
Korea Village is a multicultural space created within the venue of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flagship global festival, 'Riyadh Season,' where visitors can experience various aspects of Korean culture such as K-pop, K-Food, K-Fashion, and traditional crafts.
The issue arose as the space, intended to serve as a bridgehead for promoting Korean culture, was criticized for featuring people dressed in unidentifiable Hanbok, undermining its original purpose.
Concerns have been raised that the Hanbok in question is far removed from traditional designs, with excessive decorations that actually damage the authenticity of Korean culture.
Professor Seo commented, "This is far from traditional Hanbok design," adding, "Just covering it with Flags of South Korea does not make it Hanbok."
He further pointed out, "Although the intention to promote Korean culture in the Middle East is good, more consultation should have been sought regarding Hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire."
He especially expressed concern, saying, "Recently, China has been making groundless claims that Hanbok originated from Hanfu, and situations like this only provide them with more excuses."
Seo Kyoung-duk emphasized, "The organizers should promptly replace the Hanbok with authentic versions to prevent misunderstandings among people in the Middle East on social media."
gaa1003@fnnews.com An Ga-eul Reporter