APEC 2025 Korea looks to promote the beauty of hanbok

Every year leaders of APEC member states dress up in the host country's traditional attire for a family picture and as Korea's ancient city of Gyeongju looks to host this year's economic gathering Korea's hanbok is receiving the limelight yet again.

My colleague Ahn Sung-jin reports.

Colorful hand-dyed fabrics and threads of silk.

For artisan Park Soon-ra, this is all a work of precision and pride.

Every cut of the scissors and stitch sewn into silk reflect years of mastery in hanbok, Korea's traditional attire, but Park devotes her expertise beyond that focusing on hanbok from the Silla period.

"In Silla, even the silk was different. The clothes or hanbok was made from the finest materials, and gold was abundant, often used for decorations. It truly was the kingdom of silk and splendor."

The attire of the Silla Kingdom is characterized with its wide sleeves had delicate details around the sleeves and collar.

Hanbok styles differed by class yet all of them had slimmer silhouettes compared to the wider hanbok of latter periods.

And this sophisticated look is especially tied to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom.

But what sets Park's work apart is not only her tailoring, it's the traditional dyeing techniques.

The process is meticulous.

Handpicked flowers are dried and infused alongside berries to create the red palette. Then pieces of white silk are soaked, dried and soaked again, often more than 50 times.

With each soaking, the fabric absorbs more color, giving it earthy yet vibrant hues.

As Gyeongju prepares to host APEC 2025 Korea, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju are planning to showcase key elements of Korean traditional culture, and hanbok is taking center stage.

During the international event, world leaders will be given the traditional attire, bringing Korea's elegance to the global stage.

But it's more than recognition for Park, the honor for her lies in hanbok leaping forward onto the world stage.

In every dip of dye and every stitch of silk, Park works on continuing the legacy.

Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Gyeongju.