[Review] Between the Borders of Tradition and Modernness-Hanbok in KMLA

Like most of the high schools in Korea, Korean Minjok Leadership Academy students wear uniforms. Since it is a dormitory school, students spend most of their time wearing the uniform. However, it isn’t just a uniform; it’s very unique, probably the only kind in the world – Hanbok.

Hanbok is Korean traditional clothes, and is known for its beauty and elegance. Yet, it’s uncomfortable for the modern people with busy schedules and increased amount of physical activities. This is the reason why KMLA has both traditional and modernized Hanbok as their uniforms. There are uniforms for all seasons; spring and autumn, summer and winter. Let me focus on winter uniforms, especially the modernized Hanbok that students wear every day.

1. Colors ★★★★☆ 

There are basically four colors of uniforms from which the students can choose from. It usually depends on which wave you are in, but for the 16^th wavers, girls can choose from pink-black/red-green/navy-navy/green-dark green and the boys can choose from navy-pink/navy-grey/ green-dark green/ pink-black. Also, if you wear hand-down uniforms, you can choose more diverse colors. It’s nicer to see diverse colors in school campus, instead of all students wearing the same monotonous uniform.

2. Design ★★★★★

Unlike the traditional Hanbok, the school uniform’s top is much longer and the skirt is much simpler. This is more comfortable than general uniforms, since it doesn’t stick to students body that much, which relieves stress especially for teenage girls who are sensitive about appearances. Also, boys favor modernized Hanbok as well. “Our uniform pants are more comfortable than training pants, since it’s more loose and soft” said an anonymous 16^th waver.

3. Functionality ★★★☆☆

Since our school is in Gangwon province, winter is especially cold here. Other than jumpers or coats, we have to rely on our uniform for warmth. The school uniform serves well on this part, especially the traditional overcoat – Nu-bi. The hanboks are made of thick but light materials, which keep the warmth to the inner side of the clothes. However, there are no clothes to protect our hands or necks from the nasty winter wind. Also, the girls have to be aware not to step on their own long skirts when climbing the stairs, which is bothersome for some girls.

4. Easiness of Maintaining ★★★★★

Since KMLA is a dormitory school, whether maintaining the uniform is easy for the students or not is an important issue. In case of the uniform, it is easy to maintain, since students can just put it in a laundry basket and wash it in a washing machine. Also, modernized Hanbok is not easily wrinkled, even if students don’t hang it in their closets. It needs less care than the normal clothes students wear in weekends.

5. Accessibility ★★★☆☆

Since it is easy to maintain, many students prefer to wear Hanboks when they need to leave their rooms. Nu-bi is one of the most frequently worn coats on the way to the morning exercise in winter mornings, and to any walk outside. However, it is a little awkward to wear the uniforms outside of the school, and actually few students do so.

Overall ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

According to Minjok Herald, 155 students out of 197 preferred Hanbok as KMLA's  school uniform, other than the general uniforms of other schools. The purpose of wearing modernized Hanbok in school is excellent, and it’s colors, design, and easiness of maintaining seems great as well. However, it’s accessibility and functionality needs more improvement in order to meet the satisfaction of the majority of the students, who expect more from the Hanboks.