A hanbok is the traditional Korean attire. Up until 100 years ago, it was worn daily. But now, Koreans usually have only one or two, which they reserve for formal events.
There are several places in Seoul where you can wear a hanbok for free, such as: Deoksugung Palace, Gwanghwamun Square, Myeongdong Cultural Center, Insadong Tourist Information Center and the airport departure hall. There is also one at the Bukchon Hanok Village, but it was closed on the day that we visited. So we went to one of the rental shops instead. I don't remember the exact fee. But it was definitely not more that 10,000KRW for two hours. If you're planning to rent for half a day, there are shops that offer a better rate. Do remember to bring your passport, because they're going to keep it as a security deposit until you return the dress.
All you have to do is select the dress you like (the nicer ones might cost more), and then let the shop assistant help you put it on. Don't worry, you don't have to take off your clothes--you'll just wear the dress over it. I was there in winter, so I had to take off my winter jacket. But the dress was warm enough to keep me from freezing.
First you have to wear a hoop petticoat (charged separately). And then, you put on the dress, which is wrapped around your chest and fastened by strings. The last piece is the jacket. I think the jacket looks best on flat-chested women, because its length goes above the waistline, so if your girls are on the bigger side, it kinda looks awkward because it only covers their top half. To complete the attire, you may also rent a purse and hair accessories.
Then you're free to roam the streets looking like a real Korean (a very traditional one). Several palaces offer free entrance or discounts for those wearing a hanbok. We only went around the Bukchon village. It was the perfect backdrop for my attire. Unfortunately it was already getting dark at the time, so we had to hurry before the sun went down completely and thwarted any chance of a decent photo.
There are several places in Seoul where you can wear a hanbok for free, such as: Deoksugung Palace, Gwanghwamun Square, Myeongdong Cultural Center, Insadong Tourist Information Center and the airport departure hall. There is also one at the Bukchon Hanok Village, but it was closed on the day that we visited. So we went to one of the rental shops instead. I don't remember the exact fee. But it was definitely not more that 10,000KRW for two hours. If you're planning to rent for half a day, there are shops that offer a better rate. Do remember to bring your passport, because they're going to keep it as a security deposit until you return the dress.
All you have to do is select the dress you like (the nicer ones might cost more), and then let the shop assistant help you put it on. Don't worry, you don't have to take off your clothes--you'll just wear the dress over it. I was there in winter, so I had to take off my winter jacket. But the dress was warm enough to keep me from freezing.
First you have to wear a hoop petticoat (charged separately). And then, you put on the dress, which is wrapped around your chest and fastened by strings. The last piece is the jacket. I think the jacket looks best on flat-chested women, because its length goes above the waistline, so if your girls are on the bigger side, it kinda looks awkward because it only covers their top half. To complete the attire, you may also rent a purse and hair accessories.
Then you're free to roam the streets looking like a real Korean (a very traditional one). Several palaces offer free entrance or discounts for those wearing a hanbok. We only went around the Bukchon village. It was the perfect backdrop for my attire. Unfortunately it was already getting dark at the time, so we had to hurry before the sun went down completely and thwarted any chance of a decent photo.
