Korean Princess for a Day – How to Rent Hanbok in Seoul?

I am a certified fan of historical Korean dramas! 😍 Having said that, I decided to live out that k-drama fantasy by not only visiting some of their filming locations but also trying their elegant Korean traditional clothing called ‘hanbok’! It is indeed a unique and one-of-a-kind experience for me. It made me feel as though I’ve been transported back to the Joseon period or to a set of an old K-drama. So, let me share with you some of the details that might be of help when you decide to try it yourself.

What is a Hanbok?

The term ‘hanbok’ literally means “Korean clothing” but it just basically refers to the traditional clothing for both men and women from the Joseon period that was typically worn as semi-formal or formal wear during traditional festivals and celebrations. Wonmen’s hanbok typically consists of a jeogori (blouse shirt or jacket) and chima (wrap-around puffy skirt); whereas men’s hanbok also comprises of a jeogori but paired with loose-fitting baji (trousers) instead.

Where to Rent a Hanbok in Seoul?

Hanbok rental is an activity you have to do when you travel to Seoul. There are a lot of rental shops available for you to choose from. On our trip, we tried the rental shop near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Why? Because not only will it fulfill the experience of wearing traditional Korean wear (which makes for great portraits, by the way!), but also gain us free entrance to Seoul’s palaces!  Amazing right? 😂

We chose Ohnelharu Hanbok which is located close to the Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 4. It takes only a few minutes to walk from the entrance of the palace. (left side if you’re facing the palace).

Address: 서울 종로구 자하문로 2길 16 2F
2F, 16 Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hours: 10:00-19:00 (Closed Tuesdays)

You can also try trenting in Bukchon Hanok Village:(Nearest subway station: Anguk Station, Exit #2)

Another tip is to reserve it beforehand through KLOOK. It is convenient and will save you time because you already know where to go and what to expect. Plus they offer great discounts compared to onsite payment. Here’s the link if you want to purchase. Once you’re done paying for the booking, you will receive your e-voucher within 48 hours. You just need to print this and show it to the shop on your scheduled hanbok rental date and time.

Klook.com

How much is it to rent a hanbok?

It depends on the location where you’re renting, the prices may vary a bit. If you’re choosing a rental shop on a main street, full of tourists, it will be a bit more expensive. If you’re choosing a shop in a less touristy area, it will be cheaper. It also depends on the duration and the design you choose.

• 2 hours: ₩10,000~
• 4 hours: ₩15,000~
• Additional hours: ₩5,000 per hour
• Optional : ₩5,000~ for the petticoat
• Deposit: ₩10,000~ redeemable after you return the hanbok

CONVERSION: $1 = ₩1,404~ = Php 58~
(As of November 2022).

Exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace in a Hanbok

It is winter by the way! Some parts of Seoul are snowing already. It was so cold! But there’s no way we will skip this experience. Yes, we are three stubborn lasses! Good thing our thermals did their job well.

So the first thing we did was to find a rental shop – we choose Ohnelharu Hanbok. Upon entering the shop, I was amazed by how many colors and designs there are. Good thing the staff was friendly and patient. The lady from the shop even suggested their design recommendation when we asked her. But if you know exactly what color combination you want, you should tell them to help you get dressed.

Just to give you an idea, this traditional Korean dress for women consists of two pieces:

• a high-waist skirt called chima
• a jacket called jeogori

And yes, men can wear a hanbok too. However, theirs looks slightly different and it consists of:

• loose-fitting trousers called baji
• a jacket called jeogori

After dressing up, here comes the exciting part the FREE hair styling, and access to a mini salon area complete with elaborate hair ornaments (daenggi, headband, etc.) and hair styling accessories (iron, pins, etc.). Me and my sister got the same hairstyle while Anne got the braided style with a daenggi.

This is us on our hanbok. It is a relief that we don’t have to get undressed when wearing this traditional Korean dress. You can wear it over your clothes. We got our thermals and pants underneath. Also, the length of the dress is just enough to cover our shoes so we didn’t rent traditional shoes. We are still wearing our thermal socks and combat shoes.

Good to know: Most of the hanbok rental shops in Seoul have lockers. You can leave your jacket/ backpack there.

After getting ready, we head to the palace at around 9:30 am. The beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace means “the greatly blessed palace”, it is the oldest Grand Palace built during the Joseon Dynasty. We were lucky we got to see the Changing of the Royal Guard (Sumunjang) ceremony that takes place at 10 am and 2 pm every day except Tuesdays.

We had so much fun inside the palace. There were lots of hidden alleys with beautiful architecture. So many familiar spots, that I only saw in the k-dramas I’ve watched. There is something about these dresses that makes me look like I am part of a fairy tale.

This is one activity in Seoul, South Korea that you absolutely must NOT miss! Wearing a hanbok was one of the most memorable experiences from this trip. I feel like a princess while wearing them and I would love to do it again next time! I recommend this experience to anyone who wants to learn more about Korean culture, take some beautiful photos, and feel like a k-drama star for a few hours.

You might want to check our Korea Travel Blog: Korea Travel Guide: 6 Days in Seoul and Busan Itinerary

If you have questions let me know in the comment section below.

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