Rent a Beautiful Hanbok in Seoul: Korea's Traditional Dress

There’s no better way to experience the real South Korea than to grab a traditional hanbok- the Korean traditional dress. Frock up, go out and see Seoul. Even our favourite K-pop stars wear a modern-style hanbok!

The Hanbok Experience (Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung Store) with Korean Hairstyling lets you don this special occasion formal dress – effortlessly. Choose from nearly 500 hanbok, then style-up and accessorise your Korean hairstyles with daenggi decorations.

You and your beau can even try wedding-themed hanbok, then take some hilarious pics in film and TV show-themed sets. Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know before booking your hanbok experience:

The word “hanbok” actually translates to “Korean clothing”. In Korean history, commoners started dressing in Korean traditional clothing every day, and it reached its peak during the Joseon dynasty. During this period, social classes could be identified with the use of different hanbok styles- commoners mainly used cotton and white, while royals used vibrant colours and silks.

Having evolved over many centuries, and up to this day, the modern hanbok is still used by everyday Koreans for celebrations such as weddings and family celebrations.

In fact, Korean designers have been working on refashioning the modern hanbok- which is emerging in the modern fashion industry! The comeback of the hanbok in today's times reminds us of the special value this traditional garment holds.

If you find yourself in Seoul, there’s one thing you should do. Rent a hanbok. The city is packed with locals and tourists alike, hanging out in historic sites and palaces, dressed in hanbok. By doing this, you can enjoy being a part of traditional Korean culture. And when you’ve got this garb on – guess what?! You’ll get free entry to the 5 grand palaces of Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Gyeonghuigung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace. Here’s a tip – don’t rent Korean national dress on a Monday or Tuesday as 4 or 5 of the grand palaces are closed on Mondays. The top spot to get great photos, Gyeongbokgung Palace, is shut on Tuesdays. To be safe, rent your hanbok from Wednesday to Sunday. And if you want to know what to wear under your hanbok? Light clothes will do.

Hanbok rental shops are in no shortage around Seoul. But watch out for the differing quality of all the outlets – choose carefully. To ensure the availability of your traditional dress, reserve your hanbok online in advance. Because it’s an in-demand pursuit, by booking before your visit, you’ll avoid waiting in line at the shop. Another advantage is, online reservations are well discounted. For tried and true, high-quality hanbok, go to the Hanboknam Kyeonbokgung Store, the best hanbok rental near Gyeongbokgung or the Oneday Hanbok Rental Store located between the Gyeongbokgung & Changdeokgung Palaces. You can also get accessories at these outlets. And they’re both located near to the best spots for getting top shots.

You can rent hanbok either by the hour, half-day (4 hours) or full-day (24 hours). Renting for a full day is the way to go – that way you can explore all the palaces without worrying about the time. Let’s take a look at the two hanbok shops we recommend. 

Address: Hanboknam Kyeonbokgung Store, 109 Sogyeok-dong Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Address: 2nd Floor, 4 Bukchonro5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Once you’re in South Korea, it doesn’t take long to realise how this culture supports both its modern and traditional elements. It’s rare to see thriving cities, quiet villages, spirited markets and ancient history all alive and well. To experience the old-school side of this country, here are 6 places to start.

This is an obvious choice, but you don’t want to miss it. As the first and largest palace of Korea’s 5, this place, also known as the Northern Palace, consists of more than 500 buildings. See it in style – go to Gyeongbokgung Palace in hanbok!

This palace is famous for its architecture. But even more so for its secret garden, otherwise known as the East Palace. When you visit this site, you’ll see incredibly well-preserved examples of the Joseon dynasty.

‘Bukchon’ is Korean for North village, while ‘Hanok’ means traditional Korean house. That should give you a good idea of what this place has in-store. It’s calm, tranquil and nestled in the hills between the Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces.

On Mount Toham, this is a stunning example of the Korean Buddhist golden age. Packed with history like ancient bridges, stone pagodas and a statue of Buddha, this temple is UNESCO World Heritage-listed, and easily one of the city’s most treasured sites.

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in Korean culture is by getting out to see some of the country’s most entertaining  performances. The Norimadang is the venue in Seoul dedicated to Korean folk arts. At Seokchon Lake Park, this venue is designed to look like a Hanok – come and see the best of South Korea’s folk traditions and arts for yourself. And once you’ve experienced these beautiful artforms, make sure you check out one or more of these shows you can only catch in South Korea.

If you love the tradition of hanbok, keep your authentic experience going with a visit to South Korea during the Chuseok festival.