Jongno-gu (district mayor Yoo Chan-jong) is accepting applications for the Hanbok Showcase Competition, the signature event of the 2026 Jongno Hanbok Festival, set for Sept. 11 and 12 at Gwanghwamun Square.
The competition invites residents and visitors from Korea and abroad to dress in hanbok and show off its beauty on stage. This year, organizers have added a Pet Category — in which participants dress their animals in hanbok — bringing pet owners into the spotlight alongside people of all ages.
The competition is open in two categories: a General Category and a Pet Category. The General Category welcomes anyone residing in Korea — Korean or foreign, children to adults, families and friend groups — with an interest in hanbok. The Pet Category is open to Korea residents who wish to enter their pets dressed in hanbok. Applicants may enter only one category; duplicate applications will not be accepted.
To apply, submit the application form and hanbok photos by email to the competition's dedicated address by 1 p.m. on Aug. 20. Required document templates are available for download on the district office website.
Judging will proceed in two rounds: a written screening followed by an in-person evaluation. General Category applicants who pass the written round must attend the in-person judging on Sept. 12 at the Jongno Hanbok Festival's main stage. For the Pet Category, owners will attend on their pet's behalf and submit photos and video footage of their animals for review, in accordance with Gwanghwamun Square operating regulations.
The district will evaluate entries on criteria including hanbok presentation and motivation for participation, then award certificates and cash prizes — including a grand prize and an excellence award — to the winners. For more information, visit the Jongno Cultural Foundation website or contact the foundation's cultural programs division by phone.
"We will make sure this competition is a joyful occasion for people of all ages — and even their pets — to show off their own hanbok," district mayor Yoo said. "We hope many people will take an interest in the Jongno Hanbok Festival, which will fill Gwanghwamun Square with the beauty of our traditional attire this autumn."
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