Park Shows Off Korean Fashions in U.S.

The new discipline of presidential fashion-watching got a workout on Sunday, when President Park Geun-hye made her way to the U.S. for her first overseas engagement.

Practitioners noted that Park looked the same when she left Korea as when she landed in New York, spruce in a light olive-colored jacket without accessories.

Things became more interesting in the evening, during dinner with Korean Americans in New York. There Park wore hanbok or traditional Korean dress in a fetching ivory color with a mauve breast-knot and a pair of large pearl earrings.

Cheong Wa Dae took the time to comment, with one official explaining on the customary condition of anonymity, "As it is her very first visit abroad as president, Park chose a number of both hanbok and western-style outfits with matching accessories. This is a great opportunity to show off Korean culture and fashion."

Before Park embarked on her trip, she had been showered with free outfits from fashion designers and hanbok makers hoping for a U.S. outing of their creations.

A Cheong Wa Dae official said, "There was a silk scarf with 'taegeuk' (yin-yang) symbols and various other accessories. I don't know whether the president took everything with her or whether she will wear any of them. But since her bags and wallets draw so much attention when she goes out here, the fashion industry is evidently hoping for a big PR effect."

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