K-Beauty at the Palace

I took this portrait on a bright morning during a school trip to Gyeongbokgung Palace, a magnificent reminder of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty nestled in the heart of Seoul. As I wandered through the palace grounds—its grand gates casting long shadows and tiled rooftops gleaming under the early summer sun—I came across a group of students on a cultural outing. Dressed in elegant hanbok, they looked like echoes from history brought into the present.

Among them, this young woman stood out—not just for her beauty, but for the warmth in her expression. Her hanbok shimmered softly, adorned with delicate floral textures and golden embroidery, tied at the chest with a perfectly knotted bow. Her hair, swept to one side in effortless waves, framed her face with understated grace. She noticed my camera and smiled as I approached. I asked her politely if I could take a photo, and she agreed with a quiet nod and that same, gentle smile.

I took the shot at 400mm, allowing me to compress the scene and isolate her from the bustling background. The distance helped create a lovely soft blur behind her, highlighting the details of her outfit and the natural glow of her skin—elements that beautifully align with the renowned K-Beauty aesthetic. It was one of those moments where tradition, youth, and artistry met perfectly in my viewfinder.

Korea’s cultural pride was on full display here—through architecture, attire, and the gracious spirit of its people. And in that instant, with the palace behind her and the sunlight in her hair, she seemed to embody it all.