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/ Courtesy of Sungshin Women's University Professor Seo Kyoung-duk's Instagram

Controversy is mounting after a digital billboard at the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, misidentified traditional Chinese attire as "Hanbok."

Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, made the issue public on his Instagram account on the 15th, stating, "Controversy is brewing as a billboard at the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, mistakenly introduced traditional Chinese clothing as 'Hanbok.'"

According to Professor Seo, the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Organization recently relocated and installed the "POST APEC Media Wall" at a plaza near the floating performance stage in the Bomun Tourist Complex, and aired the problematic footage during a test run.

The billboard had originally been set up at the complex's lakeside plaza during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Gyeongju last year. While relocating the facility, authorities displayed the label "HANBOK" on a screen featuring a person wearing traditional Chinese attire.

On the screen in question, a figure dressed in Chinese-style garments was featured alongside the country name "China," but the outfit was labeled "HANBOK."

Professor Seo cautioned that "this could provide China with an excuse," noting that China has persistently claimed over recent years that Hanbok originated from Hanfu, its own traditional costume.

He pointed out that Baidu Baike, China's largest portal encyclopedia, defines Hanbok as "Joseon ethnic attire" and describes it as "a traditional folk custom of China's Joseon ethnic minority and one of China's national-level intangible cultural heritage items."

Professor Seo added that Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi also sparked controversy earlier by labeling Hanbok as "Chinese culture" in its smartphone wallpaper store.

"While China continues to carry out its cultural appropriation campaign regarding Hanbok, it is unacceptable for us to make such mistakes," Professor Seo said, demanding prompt corrective action and preventive measures from the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Organization.

                                                                                                            Jeong A-reum