As K-culture continues to deeply root itself worldwide, including in the United States, a festival showcasing the beauty of Hanbok will be held at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., one of the most iconic museums in the U.S.

The Smithsonian Institution announced that in celebration of Korea’s Chuseok, it will host a Chuseok Family Festival on September 21 from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. Participating in the event, ‘Ewha Wedding and Hanbok,’ a Hanbok specialty shop from Los Angeles’ Koreatown, will be returning for the second consecutive year by invitation from the Smithsonian to exhibit and sell Hanbok.

At this year’s Smithsonian Chuseok Family Festival, Ewha Wedding and Hanbok will showcase 60 pieces, including traditional Hanbok, modernized Hanbok, and streetwear inspired by Hanbok. In addition, they will present over 70 fashion accessories that blend tradition with modernity, using Hanbok fabric. There will also be a workshop demonstrating ‘Bojagi Wrapping,’ highlighting the eco-friendly characteristics and intrinsic beauty of traditional Korean Bojagi (wrapping cloth).

Laura Park, the representative of Ewha Wedding and Hanbok, commented, “Last year, the exhibition drew large crowds, and we were bombarded with questions about Korea.” She added, “This year, I’ve prepared even more thoroughly to introduce the beauty of Hanbok and to answer all the visitors’ questions.”

Ms. Park is the fourth generation in her family to continue the Hanbok business, which started with her great-grandfather. She began selling Hanbok fabrics from home in 1989 and has been involved in Hanbok-making for a total of 33 years, operating her current shop for 27 years. “Running a Hanbok business in the U.S., away from my homeland, carries a tremendous sense of responsibility, as it’s not just about selling clothes but representing Korea,” she said. “As I grow older, I feel a sense of urgency to spread our beauty to the world.”

Ninety percent of her customers are non-Koreans. During the early stages of the pandemic, Ms. Park made masks using Hanbok fabrics and donated them to hospitals across the U.S. One day, her daughter posted a photo of the colorful masks on social media, and they received an overwhelming response with inquiries about purchasing them. This led to the start of Ewha Wedding and Hanbok’s online sales, in which her daughter, Estella, played a significant role.

Ms. Park reflected, “Without the sense of mission to promote Hanbok, I don’t think I could have continued this work for 33 years.” She added, “My goal is to visit museums and libraries across the U.S. to exhibit and sell Hanbok, thereby introducing Korea to a broader audience.”

<Reporter Hwang Eui-kyung>