Hanbok Designer Park Sul-nyeo Refuses to Sell Hanboks Worn by BTS and Other Stars

Park Sul-nyeo, a renowned hanbok designer, has announced that she will not sell hanboks worn by popular stars such as BTS.

On the 26th, tvN STORY's 'Chairman's People' featured Park Sul-nyeo as a guest. Park has dedicated 46 years of her life to hanbok design, creating traditional Korean attire for top stars like Kim Hee-sun, Lim Young-woong, Jeong Dong-won, and BTS.

Park invited the cast of 'Chairman's People' to her second house in Toechon. She welcomed them with a hanbok fashion show in her garden. Describing the place, Park said, "It's been over 10 years. While others were investing in Cheongdam-dong, I was setting up this place." She explained that she designed it to be nature-friendly, adding, "I wanted to build a big house, but I gave up because the land was said to be good. The house is surrounded by mountains and is in a protected water supply area, making it a healthy environment."

True to her title as a 'hanbok master,' her house was filled with hanboks. The cast members were particularly interested in the hanboks worn by BTS and Lim Young-woong. Im Ho expressed his fandom by taking a photo with the pink hanbok Lim Young-woong wore during a Chuseok broadcast. Lee Gae-in also chimed in, saying, "Ask Lim Young-woong to appear on the show."

When asked if she had received offers to buy the hanboks worn by BTS, Park revealed, "I received an offer of up to 35 million KRW." She added, "While BTS's success is due to their incredible talent, their staff and fans also worked hard. I don't think it's appropriate to accept money for that, so I declined."

Her house also contained expensive and rare silks, some as old as 70 years. Park stated, "The value of this silk cannot be measured in money. If I had invested wisely, I could have bought 10 apartments or 5 commercial properties." She added, "I lived without calculations, never visiting real estate offices. In the forest of apartments, I don't own a single one."

Park also expressed her regret towards her family for not being able to spend enough time with them due to her work. She tearfully said, "I feel sorry for my family." Recalling her late mother who passed away 13 years ago, she said, "I was so busy working 365 days a year that I couldn't even show my face to my mom. I arrived late to her 80th birthday party after all the guests had left." She continued, "I regret not being able to properly treat my mom to a meal. It's a sorrow that no one knows."

Park also apologized to her children and husband, saying, "Actress Yeom Jung-ah once said, 'I do my best both at home and at work.' Even late at night, she could hug her children, but I told mine not to come into my room because I was afraid my sewing would go wrong. Why couldn't I hug my children?" she said, tearing up.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr