World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
Chinese influencer’s Hanfu video at Seoul palace draws criticism
A video of a Chinese influencer wearing Hanfu at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul has sparked online debate.
The palace is a historic site in South Korea, and the influencer is reportedly shown saying they came to Korea to promote Chinese culture.
South Korean professor Seo Kyoung-duk says the video could confuse foreign visitors.
He says Hanfu, a Chinese traditional outfit, is different from Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.
Seo urged Chinese influencers to stop making and posting such videos at the palace, while saying people can wear their own traditional clothes when travelling.
He also said similar Hanfu photos and videos from the palace appear on Chinese social media platforms.
He called for respect for other countries’ history and culture, but no further action or response is described.
A video of a Chinese influencer wearing Hanfu at Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace has drawn criticism.
Sungshin Women’s University professor Seo Kyung-duk said foreign visitors could mistake Hanfu for Korean traditional clothing.
Seo said a man in Hanfu appeared in the video saying he had come to Korea to promote Chinese culture around the world.
He urged Chinese influencers to stop making and posting such videos at the palace and to respect other countries’ history and culture.
- Who
- A Chinese influencer and Sungshin Women’s University professor Seo Kyung-duk.
- What
- A video showing an influencer in Hanfu at Gyeongbokgung Palace prompted concern that visitors could mistake it for Korean traditional clothing.
- When
- Seo raised his concerns on social media on the 17th. The article was published on October 16, 2026, UTC.
- Where
- Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- Seo said foreign tourists might confuse Hanfu with Hanbok, which he described as different clothing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A video showed a Chinese man in Hanfu at Gyeongbokgung Palace saying he had come to Korea to promote Chinese culture around the world.
Seo posted his concerns about Chinese influencers wearing Hanfu at the palace on social media.
- Location
- Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
- Clothing
- Hanfu, described by Seo as different from Korean Hanbok
- Professor
- Seo Kyung-duk, Sungshin Women’s University
- Social media platforms
- Weibo and Xiaohongshu, where Seo said photos and videos of Hanfu-clad visitors to the palace were also posted
1 source
What people are saying
Foreign tourists may misunderstand.
Our Hanbok and Chinese Hanfu are clearly different garments, but foreign tourists may mistake Hanfu for Korean traditional clothing.
Chinese influencers should stop this kind of activity at Gyeongbokgung Palace.