Hanbok, Business Opportunity for Indonesian Young People

 many people know and like hanbok after watching Korean Drama

Korean wave has affected many people around the world,  Indonesian is no exception. They sometimes don't hesitate to spend their money enjoying Korean wave by purchasing merchandises, buying tickets for their Korean boy/girlbands idol concert, or to join Korea tour packets. But some people take a benefit of Korean wave as business opportunity. 

As many Indonesians today seems going crazy about Korea, hanbok ( Korea’s traditional dress) emerges as a new business opportunity in the country. Indonesians, mostly women and young girls are fond of the beauty of  hanbok because of its vibrant colors and artistic design, and many of them want to have their own hanbok. 

Those who have sense of business make use of that phenomenon to make money by selling hanbok. What interesting is they who do the business is relatively still at very young age, and they are successful in running their hanbok business. I interviewed two young women who run hanbok business They share how they start the business and how to market their products.

Take the Opportunity, Make Money

Wulan Rahmawati is one of Indonesian young woman who take the opportunity from Korean wave by selling hanbok and its accessories. She just started the business under the name “Daejong Hanbok and Accessories” earlier this year.  Wulan interested in starting the business initially because of her concern to see many Indonesians buying imported hanbok and its accessories which is very expensive. She thought that if she made hanbok by herself using local fabric she can sell hanbok with lower price so that more people afford buying that Korea traditional dress. 

That the main reason why Wulan started her “Daejong hanbok and accessories” business. Other reason, Wulan is also interested in Korean culture, “particularly Korea’s traditional dress which is in my opinion, it’s simple and modest,” she said. She herself has been collecting Korea traditional dress that she bought via online shopping. 

According to Wulan, K-pop fans and students (college and high school) who love anything about Korea are the potential buyers for her hanbok product.  Wulan sell her hanbok dan its accessories by buyer order. She look for the fabric that is suitable for hanbok’s design ordered by buyer, then she gives the material and the design to the tailor who sew them up to be a complete hanbok outfit. 

Wulan sell a set of hanbok with the average price 350,000  IDR , for accessories such as norigae at average 65,000 IDR per piece depende on size and design, and headband at average 20, 000 IDR.  (for information: 1USD= 9,000-10,000 IDR).

 Daejong hanbok and accessories products

“At least I got two hanbok order in a week, because I just started this business. But for accessories, the numbers of buyers are quite a lot,” Wulan said.

Wulan made norigae--a kind of accessories for women which usually wear for hanbok—and Korean style headban by herself, so all of the norigae she sell are her handmade. 

She promotes her hanbok and accessories products online using social media networks.

Wulan who now still works as employee at a non-government organization in Jogjakarta  admitted that hanbok and accessories business she run now give her the pretty good profit. She said that she will pursue her new business. “As long as Korea wave still shakes many people, I think this business will survive,” Wulan said optimistically.

Prospects in the Future

Another young entrepreneur who also run hanbok business is Rizqi Putri, a college student  in Bandung. Rizqi started her business “Summer Kim Hanbok” three years ago. She saw a good prospect when many Korea lovers among young people in Indonesia starting to like various stuffs which is related with Korea, including hanbok.

Rizqi sell her hanbok products by order, using lokal and imported fabric from Korea. She made the design of hanbok  in accordance with buyer’s order with the average price 300, 000-700,000 IDR /set.

Rizqi said many young girls and Indonesian women like hanbok not only because its fancy colour and design but also it make women who wear it look elegant and beautiful.

According to her, as Korean wave becoming becoming widespread in the country there many competitors in the same field of her business. “But I can guarantee that my hanbok products is the best one because I always maintain the quality and the production process,” said Rizqi who admire korean boyband Super Junior.

She added that hanbok business has good prospects in the future as she predicted that Korean wave around the world will last long. "The demand is still high," said Rizqi who has been doing this business on sidelines of her busy schedules as a college student. 

“By running this business I get extra money to pay my tuition fee and for savings to my future,” she added.

The flourishing of hanbok business in Indonesia, cannot be denied that many people, specially women and youg girls, really appreciate this  Korea traditional dress. I can see that too each time Korean Cultural Center in Jakarta open up “Hanbok Experiences” event once in a month. On this event, KCC Jakarta provide some hanboks for woman and man to try it on, and this event is always attracted many visitors.

 and it's me with hanbok :)

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