Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

As fears grow about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, the Korean economy faces mounting pressure from surging oil prices, a weakening currency and rising inflation.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the dollar-won exchange rate briefly surpassed 1,500 on Monday. While the rate had crossed that level twice in night trading earlier this month, this marked the first time that it broke 1,500 in daytime trading since March 2009, during the global financial crisis.

The won opened at 1,501 per dollar, up 7.3 won from the previous session. It later trimmed its gains and closed at 1,497.5 won.

The collapse of the psychological threshold of "1 dollar equals 1,500 won" has heightened anxiety across financial markets. Historically, the dollar-won exchange rate has surpassed that level only during periods of major economic turmoil, including the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis. This history has fueled concerns that the sharp rise in the exchange rate could signal the beginning of another economic shock.

Korea now finds itself confronting what economists describe as "three highs": high oil prices, a high exchange rate and high inflation.

Oil prices rising above $100 per barrel poses a serious challenge for Korea, which ranks seventh globally in crude oil consumption. According to the Hyundai Research Institute, if international oil prices remain above $100 per barrel, Korea's economic growth rate could fall by about 0.3 percentage points.

The country's energy supply structure adds to the risk. About 70 percent of Korea's crude oil imports come from the Middle East and more than 90 percent of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route now threatened by Iran's blockade. This heavy dependence means disruptions in the region could magnify the shock to the Korean economy.

At the same time, fears of stagflation — rising prices combined with slowing growth — are intensifying. Higher oil prices and a weaker currency could raise import costs, increase corporate expenses and reduce households' purchasing power.

If consumption weakens as a result, the economy could fall into a cycle of low growth and persistent inflation. For an economy already struggling with structural weaknesses, that combination would be especially difficult.

In this environment, swift government action to reduce the economic impact will be necessary, but the approach should remain cautious.

Targeted support should be directed toward vulnerable households and industries most affected by the conflict rather than broad stimulus measures. Authorities should also prepare for the possibility of a prolonged crisis by establishing a national emergency command center to coordinate economic responses and monitor rapidly changing market conditions.

The government and the ruling party are discussing an additional supplementary budget estimated at between 15 trillion won and 20 trillion won ($10 billion to $13.36 billion). However, policymakers must carefully assess potential side effects, such as higher market interest rates or further depreciation of the won that could result from excessive fiscal expansion.

Prudent fiscal management and well-targeted measures will be essential if Korea is to navigate the mounting risks posed by the three highs.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Kim Ji-ye and read by an artificial voice.

Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025) continues to earn accolades, this time winning Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

"This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere," the film's director, Maggie Kang, said on Sunday after receiving the Best Animated Feature award.

At the ceremony, the Oscars' first-ever K-pop performance also took place, with the artists behind the film's fictional girl group HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — performing the Oscar-winning Best Original Song "Golden" (2025). The performance incorporated Korean cultural elements, such as buk (barrel drum), dance and hanbok (traditional Korean dress).

Directed by Korean Canadian director Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the Oscar-winning film centers on the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, who secretly hunts demons to protect the world while facing off against a rival demon boy band Saja Boys.

Signs of what would become a groundbreaking cultural phenomenon were first spotted when the film was released on streaming platform Netflix in June last year.

Despite quite a humble opening, the film soon became the most-streamed film on Netflix, dethroning "Red Notice" (2021). It later climbed to become the most-watched title in the streaming platform's history, pushing another Korean series, the first season of "Squid Game" (2021-25), to the No. 2 spot.

Its record-breaking success continued beyond its streaming platforms.

"KPop Demon Hunters" earned numerous accolades at major awards ceremonies. In January, it swept honors at both the 31st Critics Choice Awards and the 83rd Golden Globes for both the film itself and its music.

At the Critics Choice Awards, the film won Best Animated Feature and Best Song for "Golden." It also took home the animated Best Motion Picture honor and Best Original Song for a motion picture award at the Golden Globes.

While the film itself proved to be a major success, its songs propelled it even further, achieving several unprecedented milestones in K-pop history.

Following the film's positive reception, its songs, such as "Golden," "Soda Pop" (2025) and "How's It's Done" (2025), garnered global attention, climbing the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Its signature track "Golden" is still holding strong in the top 10 on the chart, sitting at No. 8 for the week of March 14, and has remained on the chart for 37 weeks. The song also held the No. 1 spot for eight consecutive weeks, becoming the ninth K-pop song to top the chart, and the first by female lead vocalists. It follows such songs as BTS's "Dynamite" (2020), "Seven" (2023) by BTS's Jungkook and "Like Crazy" (2023) by BTS's Jimin.

At the 2026 Grammys, "Golden" marked another milestone for K-pop, becoming the first K-pop song to win an award at the ceremony for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The track was also nominated in five categories, including Song of the Year.

In Britain, the HUNTR/X track became the first K-pop song in over a decade to top the Official Singles chart, the first since Psy's "Gangnam Style" in 2012.

Not only did the movie's songs achieve remarkable success, but the fictional groups in the film — HUNTR/X and Saja Boys — also set several records.

HUNTR/X became the first girl group in more than two decades to top the Billboard Hot 100, following Destiny's Child in 2001, and the first K-pop girl group to achieve the feat.

Saja Boys also became the first K-pop boy band to top Spotify's U.S. Daily Top Songs chart with "Your Idol" (2025). The achievement made it the highest-charting boy band in K-pop history, surpassing BTS.

The singing voices behind HUNTR/X have also been busy bringing the group to life on real-world stages, ever since the trio gave its first live performance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (2014) in October last year.

The group also performed at major events, including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day ...

This article is by Shin Ha-nee and read by an artificial voice.

Screams, sobs and tearful promises of forever resonated in the expansive arena as ZeroBaseOne bid an emotional farewell on Sunday, closing a defining era of its history.

The boy band's finale of its "Here & Now" world tour, which ran for three nights from Friday at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul, could have been a contender for most emotional K-pop concerts in recent memory. The final night's show wrapped up not only a world tour that attracted about 150,000 concertgoers from last October, but also a chapter of ZeroBaseOne's journey, as the nine-piece group, which has six million albums sold under its belt, will now continue as a quintet with four members departing the group at the height of its popularity.

The farewell was, of course, a long time coming. The act was formed as a project group consisting of the nine winners of the first season of Mnet's audition program "Boys Planet" (2023), destined from the beginning to disband after its contracted promotion period.

After about two years and nine months promoting together, members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae and Park Gun-wook will remain as ZeroBaseOne, while the other four members — Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin and Han Yu-jin — have departed from the group, with the Sunday show marking their last official promotion together.

But knowing the farewell was coming apparently did not make things any easier for either the members or the fans, known as Zeroes.

The show opened with already-heightened emotions as the setlist kicked off with "Here I Am" (2023), the theme song of "Boys Planet," followed by "Take My Hand" (2023) and "Crush" (2023), with the crowd shouting the fan chant at the top of their lungs.

The members tried to keep the mood light, exchanging smiles and high fives on stage while jokingly asking one another, "Has anyone started crying? No?"

"KSPO Dome feels like home for us," said Seok, looking into the crowd filling the vast venue where the group launched its world tour in October last year. "Let's make everlasting memories that will remain forever tonight!"

The first hour of the three-hour show was largely lighthearted, with the members appearing in mock advertisements and humorous parodies of famous films and TV series such as the dating show "EXchange" (2021-) in a prerecorded video played during the first interlude.

The fun, playful atmosphere continued through a series of unit performances: a cute, youthful rendition of "Out of Love" (2025) by Zhang, Kim Ji-woong and Kim Gyu-vin; a sleek and intense performance of "Step Back" (2025) by Han, Park and Ricky; and a charismatic stage of "Cruel" (2025) that opened with a blaring siren, by Kim Tae-rae, Sung and Seok.

The concert briefly shifted to a sexier mood with a remix of "Doctor! Doctor!" (2025), transforming the originally sweet R&B track into a sultry performance, followed by "Lovesick Game" (2025) and "Devil Game" (2025).

But with "Melting Point" (2023), the tone turned bright again as the members took turns walking the circle-shaped thrust stage, making eye contact with fans up close.

"We've never taken the huge love Zeroes show us for granted — and that feeling only grew stronger through this concert," said Kim Tae-rae, before the group launched into "Lovepocalypse" and "Iconik" (2025).

And then came the most emotional part of the night.

After a brief interlude, the members returned to the stage to perform "Blue" (2025), their debut track "In Bloom" (2023) and "Not Alone" (2023), during which almost every member shed tears.

More than an hour of the concert was then devoted to farewells, with each member sharing heartfelt messages with Zeroes and with one another — teammates who had grown into a genuine family over time.

"I kept looking down while performing because I thought I would burst into tears if I looked at the members," said Park in a trembling voice. "Now I regret that — I should've looked at them...

This article is by Cho Jung-woo and read by an artificial voice.

Foreign tourists in Seoul will be able to purchase single-journey subway tickets and Climate Cards with overseas-issued credit and debit cards starting Tuesday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that overseas-issued cards can now be used at 440 ticket machines across 273 subway platforms on lines No. 1 through 8.

The measure comes as Seoul expects a surge in foreign visitors ahead of boy band BTS's comeback show at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul this Saturday.

Mobile payment services such as Kakao Pay and Naver Pay will also be accepted.

Visitors will be able to purchase and top up short-term Climate Cards — ranging from one- to seven-day passes — using overseas-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards, as well as buy single-use subway tickets. Previously, foreign tourists without Korean-issued credit or debit cards were required to pay with cash at these machines.

The city government said it plans to expand the service to include monthly Climate Cards after assessing demand.

An additional service fee averaging 3.7 percent will be charged for purchases made with overseas-issued credit or debit cards.

Physical versions of Seoul's unlimited transit pass, Climate Card, can be purchased at ticket machines on subway platforms along lines No. 1 through 8 or at nearby convenience stores. The physical card costs 3,000 won ($2) and can be topped up with passes ranging from 5,000 won for a one-day pass to 20,000 won for a seven-day pass.

The pass allows unlimited rides on Seoul subways and buses during the selected period and can be recharged once the pass expires. The mobile version of the Climate Card, available to foreigners with a resident card, currently supports only domestically issued cards.

The city government and Tmoney, Korea's transportation card provider, will also set up promotional booths at stations frequently visited by international tourists — Seoul Station and Myeongdong Station in central Seoul, as well as Hongik University Station in western Seoul, commonly known as Hongdae.

The booths will operate Tuesday, the first day of the implementation, as well as Friday and Saturday, coinciding with the BTS comeback show. Staff will provide multilingual guidance on how to purchase and top up Climate Cards.

This article is by Bae Jae-sung and read by an artificial voice.

Amid severe turmoil in global energy markets caused by the war involving Iran, Korean shipping company Sinokor is reaping huge profits from its investment strategy in very large crude carriers (VLCCs), Bloomberg reported on Saturday.

Sinokor had been aggressively securing VLCCs and expanding its fleet even before the war broke out, according to the report. Industry estimates put the number of VLCCs under Sinokor's control at about 150 as of late February.

That amounts to roughly 40 percent of the vessels that were neither subject to sanctions nor tied up in other contracts.

The company decided to send at least six empty VLCCs to the Persian Gulf just weeks before the outbreak of war and keep them ready for loading cargo.

After Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28 — meaning that crude exports were blocked — storage facilities across the Middle East quickly neared capacity, and global oil companies began using tankers as floating storage.

Tanker charter rates surged in the process. "Now, with exports through the strait choked off and regional storage fast filling up, Sinokor is hiring ships out at eye-popping rates of $500,000 a day to hold oil," Bloomberg reported, citing brokers.

"When the company went on its purchasing spree in January, it bought a series of ships from another owner at an average of $88 million," Bloomberg continued. "One of those ships is now loading cargo in the Gulf and would have paid for itself in less than six months on a $500,000-a-day deal if those rates were to be sustained."

Crude shipping freight rates also climbed sharply. The cost of transporting crude from the Middle East to China has risen to about $20 a barrel, far above the 2025 average of roughly $2.50, according to shipbrokers.

"They've had a major impact," Halvor Ellefsen, a London-based director at Fearnleys Shipbrokers UK, told Bloomberg. "They've controlled a big part of the fleet, sharpened competition and ultimately sometimes have been able to name their price."

Founded in 1989, Sinokor started in container shipping. The company is now led by Chung Tae-soon, a former chairman of the Korea Shipowners' Association. His son, Chung Ga-hyun, reportedly spearheaded the strategy to secure tankers.

Experts say the investment gains were the result of this strategy converging with market conditions.

"A good position is a little strategy and a little luck," said Carl Larry, an oil analyst at Enverus. Sinokor's big bet on tankers "was quite unusually advantageous."

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

Posco Future M has inked a 1 trillion won ($670 million) deal to supply anodes, critical materials for batteries, to an undisclosed global automaker.

The contract marks the largest single order secured by the Korean company since it entered the anode materials business in 2011.

The Korean battery materials maker said Monday that the deal to supply synthetic graphite anodes will run for five years, from 2027 through 2032, and includes a provision allowing the term to be extended through mutual agreement between the parties.

To cover the supply, Posco Future will invest 357 billion won to build a new plant in Vietnam dedicated to producing synthetic graphite anodes.

With the latest deal, Posco Future M has now secured anode contracts worth up to 4 trillion won in total, with customers including several Korean battery makers, General Motors and a major battery maker in Japan.

This article is by Shin Hye-yeon and read by an artificial voice.

A limited-edition Orion cookie that gained popularity on social media is now selling online for more than seven times its retail price as consumers rush to buy before it disappears from shelves.

A box of Orion's "Soft-baked yellow cheese chip" cookies containing 16 cookies, or 320 grams (11.3 ounces), sold for 31,200 won ($21) on the e-commerce platform Coupang as of Monday. A smaller pack with eight cookies sold for 19,800 won.

The product's official retail price stands at 4,480 won for the 16-cookie box and 2,250 won for the eight-cookie box, meaning some listings exceed seven times the original price.

"Soft-baked yellow cheese chip" cookies gained popularity on social media, with prices surging after news spread that the product would no longer be available. Resellers have since raised prices in online listings.

Orion released the cookie last month as part of a limited-edition cheese-themed snack promotion alongside products such as "Market O" and "Na! Sand" (both translated).

The snack is based on Orion's existing "Soft-baked chocolate chip" cookie, but replaces the chocolate chips with cheddar cheese flavoring

The snack achieves a mild cheddar flavor by mixing cookie dough with salty cheese, creating a dense texture and what Korean consumers often describe as a "sweet and salty" taste. Online users have praised the product's flavor combination.

"The sweet chocolate chip base and salty cheese go well together," one user wrote. "It's a taste that keeps you craving."

The product's popularity has also led to more people reselling it on secondhand marketplaces. Several listings appeared on the platform Karrot on Monday, including a post offering a 320-gram box for 18,000 won.

Consumers have also asked Orion on social media to continue selling the limited-edition product.

More than 100 inquiries requesting extended sales reached Orion's customer service center over the past 10 days, industry sources said.

The company will reportedly decide whether to continue sales after reviewing production capacity and consumer demand.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Shin Ha-nee and read by an artificial voice.

A grand occasion calls for a dress code to match. For the long-awaited comeback of the world's biggest pop group, the right choice may well be something purple and fashionably Korean.

That is why the neighborhoods surrounding Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square — where BTS will kick off its "Arirang" era with a performance on Saturday — are transforming into a treasure hunt for the septet's fans, ARMY, while bringing a breath of fresh air to Korea's aging traditional fashion scene.

For Han Kook-chan, who runs the hanbok (traditional Korean attire) rental shop Daehan Hanbok just a block from the square, the upcoming national spectacle is not merely something unfolding on television screens or online headlines.

The anticipation is already palpable — in the streets right outside the doors and in the steady stream of international customers arriving both in person and online.

"Ever since BTS's Gwanghwamun performance was announced, there have been quite a lot of inquiries from those who wanted to buy daily or formal hanbok sets," Han told the Korea JoongAng Daily inside his crowded store on Wednesday. "We've designed daily hanbok attire for those who want to wear them to the concert, and about 20 sets have already sold."

Much of the renewed attention stems from the title of BTS's fifth album, "Arirang," which takes its name from a collection of Korea's time-honored folk songs. The theme signals the group's intention to explore its roots, making hanbok a fitting choice for fans marking the occasion.

Inside Daehan Hanbok, a two-story shop wedged between the avenues leading toward Gyeongbok Palace and the square, the influence of the upcoming BTS performance is apparent. Near the entrance sits an entire rack of hanbok skirts in different shades of purple, the color that has long symbolized the bond between BTS and its fans.

On the rack beside it hang a colorful spectrum, from pastel pink and yellow to vivid red and blue, shades chosen to echo the signature colors associated with each of the band's seven members.

"As there's always been strong demand for more modernized styles of hanbok, I hope this opportunity brings more attention to traditional designs as well," Han said.

The store will remain open on Saturday, according to Han, even though Gyeongbok Palace will be closed and some nearby restaurants and shops plan to shut their doors or shorten their hours in anticipation of massive crowds and potential safety concerns.

Cha Seon-ae, the owner of Hanbokgirls, a different hanbok rental store near the palace, said she is unsure if her store will be open on the big day.

"But it won't be a huge shame even if we have to close," Cha said. "I think the butterfly effect of the performance will be much bigger than its impact on the day itself, as many more people may come to visit the area later, even if they weren't able to attend the show."

Smaller nods to tradition are also gaining popularity for those who may find a full hanbok outfit burdensome.

In the nooks and crannies of Insa-dong, about a 15-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Square, some hanbok boutiques and accessory shops have begun sprinkling their storefronts with subtle but unmistakable hints of purple, from norigae (traditional Korean tassel accessory) to embroidered silk ribbons, called daenggi.

The Insa-dong branch of the modern hanbok brand Leesle is among them. Purple-hued norigae greet visitors at the storefront of the shop, where customers can not only buy hanbok-inspired fashion items but also create their own customized norigae.

Ahn Seo-hyeon, a staff member at the store, said there has been a noticeable rise in customers arriving with purple key chains and BTS merchandise as of late.

"About two weeks ago, there were two German customers who told me they were looking for a daily hanbok to wear to BTS's world tour concert in Germany," said Ahn.

Among accessories, norigae has recently gained traction, she noted...

This article is by Sarah Kim, Lee Soo-jung and read by an artificial voice.

[NEWS ANALYSIS]

A passenger train from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing on Friday after North Korea and China resumed rail services for the first time in six years, signaling both a thaw in bilateral ties between the traditional allies and a possible next step in pursuing their strategic interests.

Some analysts view the move as a strategic calculation by China amid shifting international dynamics, especially in light of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's high-stakes summit later this month.

In September last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held his first summit with Xi in Beijing in six years. Kim traveled to Beijing on his armored train to attend a military parade for China's Victory Day, and the two leaders agreed to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen strategic communication, though some experts note the restoration of ties has been slower than expected.

Thus, experts point out that the restoration of the passenger train service, first launched in 1954, which has long been regarded as a symbol of friendship between North Korea and China, as a step towards restoring such relations.

Rail services were shut down after North Korea closed its borders in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, halting cross-border travel and trade. Relations between Pyongyang and Beijing grew somewhat strained in the years that followed due to North Korea's growing alignment with Russia, including Kim signing a mutual defense treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024 and providing troops for Russia's war on Ukraine.

National flag carrier Air China will resume flights connecting Beijing and Pyongyang, also halted during the pandemic, for the first time in six years later this month.

With this reconnected air and railway link, China appears to be seeking to reassert its influence over the Korean Peninsula by improving bilateral ties which have cooled in recent years, especially ahead of the upcoming Xi-Trump summit. Likewise, North Korea could potentially use China as an intermediary with the United States, as Washington's attention has been occupied by the Middle East and other parts of the world.

On Tuesday, China State Railway Group announced that passenger train services between the two countries would resume.

According to the railway's schedule, trains running between Beijing and Pyongyang will operate four times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Train travel between Beijing and Pyongyang takes about 25 hours.

The Beijing-Pyongyang train departs Beijing at 5:26 p.m. and arrives in Pyongyang at 6:07 p.m. the next day. The return service leaves Pyongyang Station at 10:26 a.m., passes through North Korea's border city of Sinuiju and China's Dandong, and arrives at Beijing Station at 8:40 a.m. the next day.

The train consists of 18 cars, with only the last two designated for international passengers.

Trains connecting Pyongyang and Dandong will also operate daily in both directions.

Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, called the move a "symbol of substantive restoration of North Korea-China relations."

Observers note that as North Korea expands its foreign group tourism programs, aimed at bringing foreign currency into the cash-strapped regime, the resumption of passenger train services with China — traditionally the largest source of travelers to North Korea — could accelerate economic cooperation between the two neighbors.

According to China's General Administration of Customs, China's exports to North Korea reached approximately $2.3 billion last year, a 25.2 percent increase from the previous year. Total trade between the two countries amounted to about $2.7 billion, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

While the resumed passenger train service is expected to be used primarily for official purposes for now, it is likely to gradually expand to ...

This article is by Shin Ha-nee and read by an artificial voice.

Forget black ties; it's a purple-tassel affair.

If you are one of the lucky ARMY getting ready to greet BTS at its March 21 comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul — or planning to welcome the boys when they land in your hometown — you know the moment calls for an outfit worthy of the occasion.

Handy fans were quick to design their own traditional accessories, such as daenggi, silk hair ribbons, and norigae, decorative tassels, incorporating BTS-inspired motifs and sharing them online.

BTS's agency, BigHit Music, has also leaned into the theme, announcing a collaboration with the National Museum Foundation of Korea to launch pop-up stores selling merchandise inspired by traditional Korean aesthetics, including patterned pouches and key chains featuring the "Arirang" logo.

For those looking to add a subtle Korean touch rather than go all in with a full hanbok, here are a few traditional accessories worth considering before the big day.

Norigae

A norigae is a decorative tassel accessory traditionally worn by women during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), which can feature elaborate knots, embroidered silk, metal ornaments or small gemstones such as jade. Beyond decoration, it was also believed to bring good fortune or ward off bad luck.

Recently, the accessory has drawn global attention after appearing in the hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025).

Today, norigae makes an easy and stylish addition to modern outfits, as it can be clipped to a jacket, hung from the back or even tied to an ARMY Bomb light stick, adding a small but distinctive Korean touch.

Fans who want to get creative can even make their own. Modern hanbok brand Leesle offers norigae-making experiences at its branches in Insa-dong, Jongno District in central Seoul and in Hongdae, western Seoul, where participants can craft a key chain inspired by their favorite K-pop stars.

Sultti

If you are looking for something more unusual, a sultti may offer a striking Korean accent.

The accessory is a belt once worn by men during the Joseon Dynasty. At the time, the long, flowing outer garments of traditional hanbok needed to be tied at the waist, and the sultti served both a practical and decorative role. Many versions available nowadays feature a jade centerpiece engraved with Chinese characters symbolizing longevity or happiness.

You can find sultti belts at many traditional accessory shops. A particularly good place to browse is Gwangjang Market, one of Korea's largest traditional marketplaces, about a 10-minute bus ride from Gwanghwamun Square, and an ideal place if you want to sample classic Korean street food along the way.

Hair accessories

Among traditional hair pieces, daenggi are perhaps the most recognizable. These ribbon hair ties are typically made of long strips of fabric, such as silk, sometimes decorated with embroidery or patterns and finished with small beads or ornaments.

Traditionally, a daenggi was tied at the end of a long braided hairstyle, but today it can easily be woven into a braid, tied as a bow or attached to a bag or light stick.

If you're looking for something different, you might want to opt for a hairband inspired by baessi daenggi, a type of ribbon accessory worn by young girls that has a small piece of cloth in the middle, or by jokduri, a small, crown-shaped headpiece. Another simple option is the dwikkoji, a decorative hairpin that can be easily slipped into a bun or tied hair for a subtle finishing touch.

Many hanbok rental shops near Gwanghwamun Square offer hairstyling services with a variety of traditional hairdos and accessories — an easy way to transform yourself into a Joseon-era fashion icon for the day.