The 2026 Hanbok Expo, South Korea's largest-scale Hanbok exhibition, will run from the 13th to the 16th at the Art Hall of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.

Marking its ninth edition this year, the Hanbok Expo features a total of 149 Hanbok businesses, offering a comprehensive look at Hanbok manufacturing culture and the industry in one place.

In particular, a special exhibition hall dedicated to the 120-year history of the Gwangjang Market Hanbok fabric district will be set up to showcase the history of South Korea's representative Hanbok fabric market and the Hanbok-making process.

Visitors can witness the entire process of how a single Hanbok is completed—from fabric selection to gold leaf stamping, embroidery, and sewing—and purchase various fabrics and Hanbok garments at sales booths operated by six Hanbok textile businesses from the market.

For the first time this year, a business-to-business (B2B) consultation session will be held.

Domestic and international distributors and professional buyers have been invited to participate in one-on-one consultations with participating companies, exploring opportunities for distribution channel entry and overseas market expansion.

Through this initiative, the event aims to support Hanbok companies in practically expanding their sales channels and discovering new business partnerships.

At the sales pavilion, 133 Hanbok companies will participate to sell a wide variety of Hanbok products—including traditional Hanbok, modern casual Hanbok, fabrics, accessories, bags, and lifestyle items—at discounts of up to 80%.

The business promotion pavilion will showcase Hanbok work uniform designs developed with consideration for job-specific duties and mobility, while the education and cooperation pavilions will introduce various achievements from traditional clothing-related educational and research institutions.

During the event, visitors can familiarly experience the charm and culture of Hanbok through programs such as the Hanbok Expo Fashion Show, custom Hanbok-making experiences, and market play challenges with the Hanbok Pungryudan.

To enhance the reliability of event operations, a "Hanbok Expo Secret Royal Inspector Corps" will also operate to inspect product quality and country of origin.

Admission is 5,000 won, but visitors wearing a Hanbok or those who pre-registered by the 12th can enter for free.

Jeong Hyang-mi, head of the Culture and Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Hanbok is a representative cultural asset containing the beauty of our traditional culture and an important K-culture content that people around the world can enjoy together." She added, "We expect the Hanbok Expo to serve as a cultural festival where people can experience Hanbok more closely, and provide Hanbok companies with an opportunity to meet domestic and international distribution insiders to forge new sales channels."

(Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yonhap News)