by JAMES S. KIM
Fashion comes and goes, but denim has stood the test of time, and for many cultures, it has also stood as an icon of youthful defiance and identity.
South Korea is no stranger to jeans, but many don’t know about its humble beginnings and are unaware that the garment was first introduced to Koreans by U.S. soldiers after the Korean War. A new exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul aims to show the modern generation the history of denim, from its introduction to how it became a symbol for Korean youth in the 1960s and ’70s.
Although the exhibition has a number of antique pieces, the focus is on the impact of jeans in Korea. Vanya Lee, the lead curator for the exhibit, told the Korea Herald that she interviewed nearly 500 people, mostly ordinary Korean citizens, for their own personal stories about wearing jeans.
Lee Jae-yeon, 68, was the first model to pose in jeans in Korea. He recalled in a media clip that plays in the exhibit that it was difficult to get a pair at the time, as the only jeans came through U.S. military suppliers.
By the ’70s, jeans were more commonplace, but they were unpopular and often criticized by the older generation. Singer Yang Hee-eun, whose 1971 debut album depicts her wearing a denim shirt and jeans, said other singers refused to stand on the same stage with her because she was wearing jeans.
Aside from old denim and interviews, the exhibition also showcases artworks by San Francisco artist Ben Venom and jeans from North Korea. There is also a recreation of a ’70s/’80s Korean music cafe, where young folks in jeans often hung out.
The exhibition runs at the National Folk Museum in central Seoul until Feb. 23 of next year, and admission is free. Check www.nfm.go.kr for details. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out!
Images via National Folk Museum of Korea
