Western Influences on Young Women's Fashion in South Korea in the 1970s

The purposes of this study were to examine young women's fashion and their values in South Korea in the 1970s and to explore the dynamics of how the changes in values affected fashion. Fifteen Korean women who were college students in the 1970s were interviewed. With industrialization and acculturation to Western customs in the 1970s, Korean women's fashion reflected the permeation of new ideas and behaviors into the culture. New ideas of 'pursuing a career' or 'gaining professional success' rooted in the women's movement were most important and were reflected in the prevalence of casual and comfortable styles. However, 'having a good husband and being a good wife' was also important. In addition to the transition in gender roles, Korea was fast moving from a collectivist to an individualistic society and underwent the process of melding traditional and newly-adopted values in their acculturation to the West. This study helps us better understand Korea's acculturation process through dress and the dynamics involved between fashion and value changes.