A controversy erupted after it was discovered that Chinese-style clothing was incorrectly presented as traditional Korean attire at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
On Thursday, Professor Seo Kyoung Duk of Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea took to social media to highlight the issue. He stated, “At the Australian War Memorial, children’s clothing from the Korean War era is displayed alongside the South Korean flag. However, despite its clear Chinese influence, the outfit in question is being wrongly described as traditional Korean children’s attire.”
According to Seo, a concerned netizen brought the matter to light, prompting him to consult with hanbok experts, who confirmed the clothing’s Chinese origins. Prof. Seo has since sent a formal complaint requesting the correction of this misrepresentation.
He underscored the importance of accuracy, especially given China’s ongoing efforts to claim that Korean cultural items, such as hanbok, are part of its own heritage. “In light of these false claims, it is critical to ensure that correct information about hanbok is shared globally,” Seo stated, pledging to continue his campaign to protect and promote Korean culture internationally.
Recently, Seo has been actively criticizing China’s attempts to promote Korean cultural items like hanbok and stone pot bibimbap to international audiences as part of their own heritage.
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