A woman identified as A, who said she is very interested in making hanbok, went to Changdeokgung in Seoul on the 14th wearing a Goryeo hanbok she recreated with reference to a Buddhist painting from the Goryeo era. She expected free admission because she was wearing Goryeo hanbok, but a Changdeokgung staffer told her it did not meet the criteria for free admission in hanbok.
The answer did not change even after A explained it was hanbok from the Goryeo era. A said she posted the story on her social media (SNS) and eventually bought a ticket to enter the palace.
◇ 2 million hanbok visitors… Confusion over the "scope of hanbok"
The hanbok experience continues to be popular among young people and foreign tourists, but confusion persists on-site over what types of hanbok qualify for free admission to palaces. While it is difficult to recognize excessively modified fusion hanbok or outfits similar to other countries' traditional clothing for free admission, there are complaints that excluding Korea's traditional attire from various eras is excessive.
According to related industries on the 21st, the Korea Heritage Service has offered free admission to the four major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty for visitors wearing hanbok since 2013. The number of free-admission visitors wearing hanbok increased by more than 70%, from 1.15 million in 2019 to 2 million in 2024.
Under the Korea Heritage Service Royal Palaces and Tombs Center's "free admission in hanbok guidelines," both traditional hanbok and daily hanbok are recognized for free admission. However, a top and bottom must basically be worn, and outfits with excessive exposure are not recognized. Fusion hanbok that deviates too far from the shape of traditional hanbok may be restricted from free admission on-site.
◇ "Saja Boys" outfits also not eligible for free entry
The problem is that it is unclear how far something has "deviated excessively from the shape of traditional hanbok." A representative example is the cheolik one-piece dress, a modernized version of the cheolik derived from the attire of military officials.
Outfits that are traditionally outerwear, such as the cheolik or durumagi, are not recognized for free admission if worn alone. Clothing reminiscent of the outfits of "Saja Boys" from the global hit Netflix animation "K-pop Demon Hunters," or a gonryongpo, may also be excluded from free admission if worn alone.
A Royal Palaces and Tombs Center official said, "We do not uniformly restrict fusion hanbok," but added, "Wearing only a cheolik or a Saja Boys outfit is like wearing only underwear with a coat over it, so you must wear a jeogori and pants underneath with the outerwear to be recognized as traditional attire."
◇ Will the admission fee reform forum help establish standards?
Debate over the criteria for free admission in hanbok is nothing new. In 2024, there were also concerns that many tourists visited palaces wearing hanbok of "unknown nationality." At the time, the Cultural Heritage Administration said it would survey hanbok shops around Gyeongbokgung and form a consultative body based on the findings. Two years have passed since, but no new concrete standards have been established.
Some argue that hanbok should be recognized more broadly. They say that dressing in period attire not only from the Joseon era but also from the Three Kingdoms and Goryeo eras does not deviate from the purpose of the free admission policy to popularize and globalize hanbok.
There is also talk that the criteria for free admission in hanbok could be discussed at a public forum the Korea Heritage Service will hold on the 8th of next month. The Korea Heritage Service decided to host the forum to prepare an admission fee reform plan to take effect in January 2027.
An official at the Korea Heritage Service said, "The specific scenario for the forum has not been finalized yet, so it is undecided whether there will be discussion on the free hanbok rules."