Korean Search Terms

Searching for Korean resources can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for or how to read the language.

I’ve put together a list of terms that you can use to help find images or sources for Korean items. I recommend using naver.com since it’s a Korean search engine, but it can be confusing to find sources.

Terms to search:

Clothing
한복 – hanbok – Korean traditional clothing
치마 – chima – skirt
저고리 – jeogori – jacket
속저고리 – sokjeogori – inner jacket
적삼 – jeoksam – unlined jacket, usually worn in summer
버선 – beoseon – traditional socks
바지 – baji – pants
도포 – dopo – men’s coat
관복 – gwanbok – court official’s attire
흉배 – hyungbae – rank badges worn on chest and back
누비 – nubi – traditional quilting technique

Accessories
노리개 – norigae – decorative knots and tassels
매듭 – maedup – decorative knotting technique
비녀 – binyeo – hairpin
갓 – gat – traditional men’s hat – wide brim
사모 – samo – winged men’s hat
주머니 – jumeoni – pouch
귀주머니 – gwijumeoni – eared pouch
두루주머니 – durujumeoni – rounded/ball shaped pouch
가체 – gache – big hair pieces

Time periods
삼국 -samguk – Three Kingdoms (57 BC – 668 AD)
백제 – Baekje (18 BC – 660 AD)
고구려 – Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD)
신라 – Silla – (57 BC – 938 AD)
통일신라 – tongil Silla – Unified Silla – (668 AD – 935 AD)
고려 – Goryeo (918 AD – 1392 AD)
조선 – Joseon – (1392 AD – 1897 AD)

Joseon can be split into two parts, early and late. Early would be 1392 to the Imjin War, which ended in 1598, then Late from there to 1897.

If it’s split into three parts, Early would be 1392 – 1505 (Jungjong coup), Middle is 1505 – 1637 (Qing Invasion), and Late is 1637 – 1897.