Traditional Korean footwear

Classic examples include jipsin straw sandals, mituri sandals woven from hemp fiber, namaksin wooden clogs, leather shoes such as taesahye and danghye, and the rubber shoes that spread in the 20th century. People wore different shoes depending on social status, weather and purpose.

Jipsin are sandals made by twisting and weaving rice straw, and they were common footwear among ordinary people in the past. Because the material was easy to get, families made them at home. They were light and airy but wore out quickly.

Mituri are woven like straw sandals, but from hemp fiber or cord instead of straw. They were finer and sturdier than jipsin and considered more refined footwear. The shape is similar, but the materials and the care in making them differ.

Namaksin are clogs carved from a single piece of wood, worn when it rained or the ground was muddy. Raised supports at the front and back lift the foot off the ground to keep it dry. Being heavy and hard, they were mainly used in bad weather rather than every day.

Taesahye were the everyday shoes of men of the yangban aristocracy in the Joseon era. With leather soles and uppers of silk or similar material, they are recognizable by striped patterns, called taesamun, on the toe. Today reproductions are worn with men's hanbok or at traditional weddings.

Danghye and unhye were elegant shoes worn by women in the Joseon era. They were covered with silk or similar fabric and decorated with patterns on the toe and heel; danghye are known for arabesque vine patterns and unhye for cloud patterns. They were mainly worn by upper-class women.

Traditional footwear divides into hwa, boots with shafts that cover the ankle, and hye, low shoes that leave the ankle exposed. The tall mokhwa boots officials wore with their uniforms are hwa, while taesahye and danghye are hye. That is why artisans who make traditional shoes are called hwahyejang.

Hwahyejang is the craft of making traditional shoes from leather and other materials, and the title for artisans who master it. It is designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and preserves the techniques for making shoes once worn by royalty and the aristocracy. Its works and methods can be seen at exhibitions and public events.

Rubber shoes arrived in the early 20th century and spread quickly once they were produced in Korea in the 1920s. Modeled on traditional shoe shapes, they suited hanbok, and being durable and water-resistant, they replaced straw and leather shoes. Today they evoke images of everyday life in old Korea.

Kkotsin, meaning 'flower shoes', is an affectionate name for prettily decorated shoes with floral and other patterns. Today the term often refers to embroidered or patterned shoes worn with hanbok. They are popular for children's first-birthday parties and holiday hanbok outfits.

It is a Korean idiom meaning to have a change of heart and leave a partner. It was especially used for a girlfriend breaking up with a boyfriend while he was away doing military service. Today it is mostly used jokingly.

Mokhwa are known as the tall boots Joseon-era officials wore with their official robes. Made of black leather or fabric, they completed formal attire. Today you can see them in historical dramas and at traditional weddings, worn by grooms with the samo-gwandae official costume.

The Museum of Straw and Plant Handicraft in Jongno-gu, Seoul, introduces everyday tools made from straw and grasses, including items such as straw sandals. Some folk villages and cultural centers also run straw-craft workshops. Check official sources for visiting information.

Some folk experience centers and museum education programs offer sessions where you can make straw sandals or other straw crafts by hand. Twisting straw is more delicate than it looks, giving a sense of the wisdom of traditional life. Schedules and booking methods vary by institution.

Folk-life museums such as the National Folk Museum of Korea, as well as university museums with costume collections, display traditional footwear like straw sandals, wooden clogs and leather shoes. Royal footwear can sometimes be seen at the National Palace Museum of Korea. Displayed items may change, so check ahead.

Flower shoes and hanbok shoes sold today are usually sized in millimeters, like regular shoes. Many have thin soles and narrow toe boxes, so it may help to allow a little extra room compared with your usual size. Also consider that you may wear beoseon socks or regular socks with them.

Today rubber shoes are widely associated with Buddhist monks at temples. Some people wear them for gardening or in the countryside, and colorfully decorated pairs are sold as souvenirs and fashion accessories. Light and water-resistant, they remain practical shoes. Some craft shops sell hand-painted pairs as gifts.

Traditional or flower shoes often have thin, slippery soles, so be careful on long walks or stairs, especially at palaces with stone paving and dirt paths. One option is to carry comfortable shoes and change into the traditional pair only for photos.

Straw sandals wore out quickly on long walks, so travelers setting out on long journeys often carried spare pairs. There are stories of scholars heading to the capital for the civil service exam with straw sandals tied to their bundles. Sandals could also be bought along the way.

Yes. Some designers and brands adapt elements such as the upturned curved toe of traditional shoes or the taesamun stripes into modern footwear. There are also slip-ons inspired by rubber shoe shapes and shoes with embroidered decoration. Many are designed to wear with everyday clothes, not just hanbok.