It is said that a good pair of shoes completes the look, be it formal attire or otherwise. And just as dress shoes go well with suits, one should also put on appropriate footwear when wearing hanbok, or Korean traditional clothing. this case, what kind of traditional Korean shoes are there? Who is going to put on these shoes, when, and why? Who makes these shoes and what are they made of? These questions triggered my interest in writing this book. I sincerely hope it helps to answer these questions. a plethora of research has been conducted on Korean clothing, it is hard to find much on Korean shoes. There are some books and papers regarding various footwear, but it is not easy for the general public to understand them because they are often cited with difficult-to-read Chinese characters. Similarly, there are hardly any good archaeological papers out there that delve into shoe artifacts. Occasionally, museums will produce catalogues introducing only the shoes in their own collections, and from time to time, a Hwahyejang holder of a National, Provincial, or Municipal title of Intangible Cultural Heritage will publish a book on their own techniques for crafting traditional shoes. purpose of this book, then, is to summarize the existing research on hwahye. The book also intends to emphasize the characteristics and strengths of this resource series as planned and published by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation. We aim to provide readers with references and visual materials in relation to Korean traditional shoes with simple descriptions and sophisticated designs at a glance.
-Writers. Kyunghee Jang

Since ancient times, it has been said that shoes complete the look. Our ancestors considered putting on neat outfits to be proper manners. They wore clothes, put on a hat, and paired their shoes with their outfit. Choosing a good pair of shoes not only completed the look but also showed the wearer's sense of style. put on clothes to cover, protect, and decorate their bodies. Likewise, they chose footwear that protected their feet and represented their social status. The history of shoes is as long as that of clothes, and in Korea shoes have been crafted and worn from very early times.
There are many different materials for making shoes, and the material dictates their name and style. Therefore, before discussing shoes, we need to know what they are called. Names of Korean traditional shoes are often written in Chinese characters and classified into three categories, depending on the height of the shoe. This classification is known as hwa-hye-ri (靴鞋履). High-top shoes or boots rising over the ankles are called hwa 靴. Shoes that do not cover the ankle are called hye 鞋. Shoes made from plaited plants, such as jipsin and mituri, are called ri 履.
--- p.14~15

When did you start making hwahye?
My grandfather supplied heukhye, the final touch to any government official's outfit, to the government office in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do province, at the end of Joseon period. Afterward, my father inherited the family business and dedicated his life to crafting traditional shoes. This is why I was able to learn shoemaking techniques over his shoulder while running errands. I got involved when I was twelve years old and naturally started making shoes in earnest when I was nineteen.

What makes hwahye appealing?
Hwahye are not only our tradition but also an art itself. When you quietly sit and look at the shoes, you can feel the subtle, natural beauty and warmth from the curves and colors. It is an antique elegance and beauty. The up-turned toe is like a sail boat, flickering an artistically beautiful line. Unlike Western shoes, two pieces of the shoes are identical, the left and right are the same. Our ancestors essentially broke into the shoes to get the perfect fit. These customizable shoes are a perfect example of people's wisdom. In a sense, hwahye deliver the history and wisdom of life as an invaluable legacy and treasure.

You have upheld traditional shoemaking methods. How are hwahye created?
Because these traditional methods represent our cultural roots, I have stuck with them despite living in a high-tech society. That is the only way we preserve the beauty and feel of our traditions. Each pair of shoes is unique and we do everything manually, sewing stitch by stitch. Glue should be made of rice starch or cowhide. I have to make holes using a gimlet in the thick and tough cowhide sole and sew it onto the upper of the shoe. As this process must be done while the glue is still sticky, the craftsman must work on the stitch for two uninterrupted hours. The shoe sizes are slightly adjusted with the singol, or wooden shoe mold. These are usually made from pear, cherry, or mulberry wood. To shape a shoe, the craftsman needs to pound the shoe over the mold more than 500 times using a wood hammer. The whole process is quite complex, from the preparation of natural materials to the repeated processes of unaffected drying. This process should be repeated many times and every step must be done manually. Therefore, it takes about two weeks to a month to complete all the procedures for making a single pair of shoes.

interview [Hwahye, the simple beauty of Korean tradition ]