▲ This poster for the 2026 Hanbok Expo, the the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The country's largest hanbok fair is set to take place at the Art Hall of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Aug. 13-16, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation will hold "2026 Hanbok Expo," the country's largest hanbok fair, at the Art Hall of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul from Aug. 13-16, the ministry said Tuesday.

 

The ninth edition of the annual expo will bring together 149 hanbok companies, offering a comprehensive look at hanbok-making culture and the industry. In particular, a special exhibition will highlight Gwangjang Market's hanbok fabric market, which has a history spanning 120 years, showcasing the history of one of Korea's leading hanbok fabric markets and the hanbok-making process.

 

Visitors will be able to see firsthand the entire process of making a hanbok, from selecting fabrics to applying gold leaf, embroidery and stitching. They will also be able to purchase various fabrics and hanbok products at sales booths operated by six hanbok textile companies from the market.

 

For the first time this year, the expo will host business-to-business consultations. Domestic and overseas distributors and professional buyers will be invited to hold one-on-one meetings with participating companies to explore opportunities for entering distribution channels and expanding into overseas markets. The program is aimed at helping hanbok companies expand their sales channels and secure new business opportunities.

 

At the sales section, 133 hanbok companies will offer a wide range of products, including traditional and everyday hanbok, fabrics, accessories, bags and household items, at discounts of up to 80 percent. The business promotion section will showcase hanbok workwear designs developed with the characteristics and mobility requirements of different occupations in mind, while the education and collaboration sections will introduce achievements by educational and research institutions specializing in traditional attire.

 

A variety of hands-on programs will also be available for visitors. People of all ages can experience the beauty and culture of hanbok through programs including the Hanbok Expo fashion showcase, a custom hanbok-making experience and traditional market games with the Hanbok Pungryudan performance group.

 

To enhance confidence in the event, a "Hanbok Expo Secret Inspector Team" will also operate to check the quality and country of manufacture of products.

 

Admission costs 5,000 won, but visitors wearing hanbok or those who register in advance by Aug. 12 can enter free of charge.

 

"Hanbok is a representative cultural asset that embodies the beauty of our traditional culture and an important K-culture content that people around the world can enjoy together," Jeong Hyang-mi, director general of cultural policy at the culture ministry, said. "We hope the Hanbok Expo will become a cultural festival where people can experience hanbok more closely and provide hanbok companies with opportunities to meet domestic and overseas distributors and develop new sales channels."

 

More information about the event is available on the official Hanbok Expo website.

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