Why Is Korean Fashion So Popular? - IVisitKorea (2024)

FAQs

Why is Korean fashion so popular? ›

The Korean culture wave (Hallyu) is undeniably one of the main reasons for Korean fashion's meteoric popularity. With Korean media being so widespread, it is only natural that people will want to follow suit in how they dress. Social media also plays a massive part in popularising these trends.

From tops to coats, and pants to dresses, Korean women love wearing clothes oversized enough to hide their forms which are typical in Korean-style clothing. They are especially a popular casual attire, existing even in the form of sweater dresses, and focused on utmost comfort.

Most fashion enthusiasts have a common query about what is Korean fashion called? Let's answer: most people consider “hanbok” -a traditional Korean dress, a symbol of Korean fashion. Korean people wear this attire on special occasions.

Along with unique and remarkable food, clothing is a huge part of Korean culture. Typically made with plain and patterned silks and other fabrics with intricate designs typically featuring graceful lines and national symbols, Traditional Clothing in Korea is unique, and rich Korean history has been woven into them.

Fashion trends

1950s–60s: Introduction of Western clothing into Korean culture. 1970s–80s: Development of ready-made clothes industry (factory-made clothing, off-the-peg). 1980s–90s: Organization of SFA; increased popularity of designer brands.

With tonnes of promising fashion talent popping up in the city, and Seoul Fashion Week expanding season on season, it's becoming increasingly apparent why Seoul has gained a reputation as East Asia's leading fashion capital.

In part, Koreans think that everyone deserves to appear attractive, so they devote a significant amount of time and money to their skincare regimen. In addition, Korean beauty salons are quite popular, particularly among women and men who wish to improve their physical appearance.

Another unique feature of Korean is its very distinctive alphabet called, Hangeul. It is one of few languages in the world which has a writing system specifically designed for it. It is certainly the only language in the world whose alphabet was invented by a king!

Hallyu (also known as the Korea Wave) is an aesthetic heavy centered around South Korean popular culture; especially Korean pop music (commonly referred to as "K-Pop") and Korean drama shows (commonly referred to as "K-Dramas").

Is Korean fashion modest? ›

If you are into Modest Fashion, you are in for a treat with Korean brands. The standards of modesty in Korea may be different than in your country, Koreans mostly consider that the chest and shoulders should be covered. So it's quite easy to find a top that you can match with a maxi skirt or a pair of slacks.

The South Korean fashion of today began in the late 1800s with an intertwining of western influences. Before that point, during the Joseon period (1392-1897), the Korean hanbok was the typical fashion choice. Hanboks consisted of a blouse and loose-fitting pants or skirt.

According to a survey on the global popularity of South Korean cultural content in 2021, Korean fashion was the most popular among Indian respondents as around 45 percent of the respondents stated that Korean fashion was very popular in their country.

Paris has been considered the style and fashion capital of the world since the 16th century, and it has been influential in the fashion world ever since.

The market size of the South Korean fashion industry amounted to around 20.58 trillion South Korean won in the first half of 2022. Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and 2020, the fashion industry in the country recovered again in 2021.

This is the result of rapid economic growth that initially spawned a nouveau-riche culture of ostentatiously displaying wealth. The economic growth itself is precipitated by status-conscious, affirmation-hungry South Koreans who enjoy showing off their success through material goods.