Kim Pankyu, South Korea’s ambassador to Nigeria, has called for the promotion of Korean cultural identity and artworks through ‘Hanbok’ for the global stage.

Pankyu made the call on Thursday at the 2025 opening of the Hanbok exhibition at the Nike Art Gallery in Abuja.

‘Hanbok’ refers to the traditional attire of Korea.

It is a complex and beautiful form of dress with deep cultural significance, typically worn for special occasions like ceremonies and celebrations.

Hanbok for women usually consists of a short jacket (jeogori) and a long full-skirt (chima), while men’s hanbok features a jacket and loose-fitting trousers (baji).

The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria organised the exhibition with the theme ‘Hanbok Reborn as Art’.

Mr Pankyu said the exhibition aims to transcend mere viewing, fostering an environment where audiences could directly engage with and experience the content.

“It offers a gateway to understanding Korea’s unique spirit and history through contemporary artwork by the ‘Hanbok’.

“It also played a crucial role in conveying the value of traditional culture to future generations and in promoting Korea’s cultural heritage on the global stage, “he said.

According to him, the concept of ‘Hanbok, Reborn as Art’ evolves from the basic and crucial foundation of Korean tradition and heritage: the traditional Korean outfit ‘Hanbok’.

The ambassador said the earliest origins of the hanbok could be traced back to Korea’s late three kingdoms period, just as many other aspects of their culture and society evolved but were not lost.

“All the way in Korea, these modern artists have explored Korean identity using elements of the hanbok, which bare shapes, colours and more to create artworks for the global world.

“We hope that you will not only experience the novelty and creativity of these artists, but you will also witness the uniqueness of the hanbok,” he said.

(NAN)