Why did everyone in old Korea wear white?
If you have the good fortune to spend time looking over photos and videos of Korea in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, you will notice something quite striking: nearly everyone’s wearing white. There is a uniformity in the appearance of the people, marked by their plain, unadorned white clothing. Contrast this with the bright pinks, blues and greens we see foreigners wearing around the…
When perusing photographs and videos from Korea's late 19th and early 20th centuries, a peculiar observation emerges: an overwhelming majority of the populace donned white attire. This homogeneity in appearance is striking when juxtaposed with the myriad of bright hues, like crimson, azure, and emerald, donned by foreigners in contemporary K-dramas.
The discrepancy between the past's reality and its modern portrayal is evident. A 1920s observation highlights this phenomenon: "While China and especially Japan are using so many different colors in their dresses, there is no such trend in the neighboring country, Joseon. They wear no color but white. Even when they use a color, it's an almost colorless jade."
The query arises: why did Koreans of all genders and ages wear predominantly white? This unique characteristic set Joseon apart from other nations worldwide. The term "Baekui Minjok," meaning 'People in white,' captures this distinctive aspect of Korean culture.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Why did everyone in old Korea wear white? koreatimes.co.kr
