Hanbok designer Lee Young-hee will sail to Dokdo for the second time on Thursday in the hope of holding a fashion show on the rocky islet 87.4 kilometers east from Ulleung Island on the East Sea. It will be in commemoration of Dokdo Day, which falls on Tuesday.

Lee is one of the most renowned designers of the Korean traditional costume, having introduced hanbok to the world and clarifying its name from being “Kimono Coree,” a name that an unknowing French journalist gave to hanbok in the early 1990s.

She tried to host a show to commemorate Liberation Day on Aug. 15, but due to weather conditions had to have the show in Ulleung Island instead. The new show is scheduled for Friday weather permitting.

“We are going to stay there until we can hold the show,” said a PR official at Maison de Lee Young-hee.

About 13 models will showcase about 30 court hanbok from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), hanbok made of “mosi” or ramie, which island people used to wear, and 2011 S/S Paris Haute Couture collection during the 30-minute-show. The court costumes are to emphasize Korea’s dignity of having secured Dokdo long ago.

The show is co-hosted by MIRAEMUNHWA Foundation, in which Lee serves as president, and supported by North Gyeongsang Province. About 40 people, including models and officials from Maison de Lee Young-hee will be present at the show.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)