Vickjune Excel Wutoh, an MDP student at KDIS, shared her experience of wearing traditional dress called hanbok in Korea. 

She says, "One of my best experiences in Korea is the Hanbok experience because I feel so connected to Koreans when I wear it. I have always loved Korean Hanbok, even back home in Liberia, because I'm a fan of K-dramas. When I arrived in September, just one month here, I asked a Korean friend named Yoobinara to take me for a Hanbok experience. She took me to Jeonju-Si on October 2nd for the Blue Hanbok experience. The pink Hanbok, the second experience, was during the Winter break on a fellowship field trip to Seoul."

Could you please introduce yourself to the audience?

I am Vickjune Excel Wutoh, a Gender Equality Activist from Liberia, West Africa, and a member of the Fall 2022 MDP Cohort. Before coming here, I worked as a Business Development Agent at a Fintech Company in Liberia. I founded a local NGO that empowers young women and girls in leadership through advocacy and programs.

How long have you been in Korea and how did you get interested in studying in Korea (pursuing your Masters at KDIS)? Why Korea?

I have been in Korea for nine months now. I got interested in studying at KDIS because, besides reading about its conducive learning environment, I also received testimonials from my country's alumni network. KDIS provides the requisite knowledge, professional training, and technical skills I need for the journey ahead to help solve some of the significant policy issues hindering economic growth and sustainable development. As a Gender Equality Activist and Founder of a local NGO, I have always advocated for a safe environment that fosters diversity. Living in such an environment now at KDIS is a dream come true.

When was the first time you wore hanbok? How did wearing hanbok make you feel?

I first wore hanbok in September 2022. Wearing hanbok made me feel connected to the Korean people. Hanbok is a key component of Korean cultural identity; it is worn at national events and other ceremonies, like weddings. Hanbok is deeply loved by foreigners who visit Korea, and I see many people get excited to experience wearing hanbok.

What traditional clothes do you wear back home? How different or similar are they to Korean traditional clothes? (Include one or two pictures of traditional attire)

Back home in Liberia, I wear the traditional African attire called lappa, wrappa, or country cloth. They differ in texture, but some styles can be sewn or worn similarly to hanbok for a fashionable look. The Liberian dress code is typically any African suit, blouse, or dress paired with a head tie.

Where would you recommend trying hanbok for the first time in Korea to make it a memorable experience?

I would recommend Jeonju-Si because it offers a traditional environment with more traditional houses. Jeonju gives you a sense of what traditional Korea was like before the modern cities we now see and live in.