Hanbok designer stages S. Korea's first fashion show on Dokdo

DOKDO, South Korea, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Widely renowned South Korean fashion-designer Lee Young-hee showcased on Friday her collection of Hanbok, or traditional Korean attire, on the easternmost islets of Dokdo, in the first-ever fashion event held on the rocky islets.
Around 40 models showcased court Hanbok, costumes for ordinary people and Hanbok pieces adapted for islanders' everyday life in the fashion show, intended to commemorate Dokdo Day, which fell on Oct. 25.
The traditional Korean dress is characterized and appreciated for its vibrant colors and simple lines and is still worn by Koreans on formal and ceremonial occasions.
Lee has made efforts to promote Hanbok overseas and is highly acclaimed for her original modern creation of the traditional suit.
She initially planned to stage the first Hanbok show on the islets in August to mark South Korea's Aug. 8 National Liberation Day, but erratic weather conditions led her to cancel the plan and open it instead on Ulleung Island, about 90 kilometers toward mainland Korea from Dokdo.
The event was sponsored by the Miraemunhwa Foundation, headed by Lee, and the Association of Commemorative Service for An Yong-bok, a private foundation set up to commemorate the namesake Korean from the 1600s who helped the country solidify claims to the islets, around 200 kilometers from mainland Korea.
Before the show, participants took a tour of guard facilities and other installations as part of their gestures to encourage police officers stationed there to maintain the country's sovereignty over the islets.
"This event is a very meaningful one that helps globalize Hanbok's representation of Korea's national beauty and reminds us of our deep love of Dokdo," said Kim Kwan-yong, the governor of North Gyeongsang Province that includes the islets. "I will make every effort to protect Dokdo."



Politicians and civic groups have often visited Dokdo and held sports events or other activities there in a show of their support for the country's sovereignty over the islets.
Japan has long tried to lay claims over Dokdo, a major cause of frequent tensions between Seoul and Tokyo. Korea rejects Japanese claims because it regained independence from Japan's 36-year colonial rule in 1945 and reclaimed sovereignty over its territory, including Dokdo and many other islands around the Korean Peninsula. Since 1954, South Korea has stationed a small police detachment on Dokdo.
Meanwhile, the Tokyo teachers' labor union released on Friday their view refuting Japan's sovereignty claim over the islets, according to the Japanese daily Sankei Simbun.
The union said, "There are no foundations to say (Dokdo is) part of Japanese territory," the newspaper reported.