I've worn some beautiful dresses in my life, but nothing quite prepared me for the experience of wearing a traditional Korean hanbok while exploring a palace in Seoul.
And let me tell you, for a few hours, I felt like an actual princess.
During a trip to South Korea with friends, we decided to rent traditional hanboks and spend the day exploring one of Seoul's historic palaces. From selecting the beautiful fabrics to getting dressed and walking through the palace grounds, the entire experience felt special.
There's something about experiencing another culture this way that simply can't be replicated by taking a few pictures outside a famous landmark.
We weren't just looking at the history. For a little while, we got to participate in one of its beautiful traditions.
Being Black in Seoul
One thing I noticed during my week in South Korea was how rarely I encountered other Black people. In fact, my friends and I were among the only Black visitors I remember seeing during much of our time there.
Naturally, we stood out.
And I know that, for Black travelers, standing out in another country can sometimes come with uncomfortable experiences. People staring, making assumptions, or treating you like some kind of attraction.
But that wasn't our experience.
People were curious, certainly, but overwhelmingly respectful and welcoming.
While we were exploring the palace in our hanboks, some locals approached us and politely asked whether they could take pictures with us. We even took photos with children. One woman was especially sweet, offering to take pictures of us and telling us how beautiful we looked.
And you know what? We happily obliged.
We were already having such a whimsical, joyful day that those interactions simply became part of the fun.
At no point did I feel like a circus act or some strange curiosity on display. People approached us kindly, asked permission, and respected our responses.
That's an important distinction.
A Different Kind of Princess Experience
I think one of the things I loved most was that nobody made us feel as though we didn't belong in those beautiful clothes.
We were clearly visitors. We were Black American women wearing traditional Korean clothing, walking through a historic Korean palace. We weren't pretending to be anything else.
But for that afternoon, we got to appreciate the beauty of another culture while feeling beautiful ourselves.
And isn't that part of what makes travel so special?
I've always believed there's a difference between simply visiting somewhere and genuinely experiencing it. Some of my favorite travel memories have come from stepping outside the familiar, trying something new, and allowing myself to be fully present.
Sometimes that means discovering an unfamiliar dish. Sometimes it's learning about a country's history. And sometimes it's putting on a gorgeous hanbok and spending the afternoon feeling like royalty.
The Beauty of Feeling Welcome
I can't speak for every Black traveler's experience in South Korea, but I can tell you what mine was.
I felt welcomed.
I felt respected.
And on this particular day, I felt absolutely beautiful.
It was one of those experiences that reminded me why I love traveling in the first place. The world is full of people, traditions, and experiences that are different from our own, and there's so much joy to be found in discovering them.
Sometimes the most memorable part of a trip isn't the destination itself. It's how that destination made you feel.
And Seoul gave me a memory I'll always treasure.
For one afternoon, this Black girl got to live her princess fantasy in a Korean palace.
And I wouldn't change a thing.
