From February 2024, graduates will wear Hongik University's new graduation regalia. This project began in 2021 and was managed by the Office of Student Affairs. Hongik Professor Chul-yong Choi was responsible for the design, and Professor Jin-young Kim was responsible for design research and development. Design research was conducted by Ye-na Kim and Ji-yeon Shin, and design research/development was conducted by Da-yeon Kim, Min-ju Kim, and Seung-hee Baek.Starting with Sungkyunkwan University (in 1998), major universities in Korea such as Sookmyung Women's University, Korea University, Seoul National University (2005), Ewha Womans University, and Dongguk University (2017), introduced unique graduation attire that reflects their school identity. Most of the 10 major universities in Seoul have their own graduation regalia. On the other hand, Hongik University did not have its own graduation attire, and there was steady need for it. Therefore, through this graduation attire project, Hongik aims to reflect the University's symbol mark, signature emblem and colors, while at the same time incorporating a sustainable design respecting the environment and also giving a dignified traditional Korean beauty to the new attire. With this determination, the school has developed a unique graduation attire encompassing Hongik University's identity.

The new graduation attire was designed under three main keywords to capture the values and ideologies of Hongik University.  The first was 'Intellectual independence', which expresses the identity of the school through the symbol of Hongik University. For this, various symbols of Hongik University such as UI, letters 'ㅎ', 'H', and school colors are reflected in the attire. The second is 'Creative professional', a design that combines the dignity of the attire with the dignity of traditional Korean beauty. The silhouette of Western-style graduation attire has been harmoniously fused with the shape of the Korean “durumagi” and “po”. The last is 'Cooperative spirit'. The attire was designed in a sustainable way therefore thinking about the environment. This design is a zero-waist cutting method minimizing fabric waste through Korean flat cutting.

The new development for Hongik University's graduation regalia includes all academic gowns, caps, ties, and stoles. The research team analyzed other graduation attire in the United States, Europe, and Korea, places which have had the most influence on Korean graduation attire. During this process, the silhouette of the graduation attire, which is a traditional oversized A-shape, was maintained, however the dignity of the scholar was expressed through combining it with the fit of the hanbok's durumagi.The fabric is another unique feature. Hongik University's Department of Textile Art and Fashion Design developed the fabric directly utilizing its expertise in conducting in-depth research on the fabric itself.  The main fabric, polyester jacquard (directly weaving patterns from a knitting machine) was used, and this jacquard material is the first of its kind in Korea.  An important advantage is its waterproof component being coated with a special water-repellent and PU, and pills less than general fabric. The fabric used on the side is 100% polyester and 170g high weave yarn. The high weave yarn is twisted like a spring making it elastic to create a stable fit. For the lining and stole, the unique design was emphasized through the contrast of the material.

Each pattern on the academic cap, tie, and scarf is comprised of symbols of Hongik University. The tassel of the academic cap, tie pattern, and the emblem on the scarf were all differentiated by adding symbols of Hongik University. The pattern on the fabric was designed using the circular UI and Hongik's 'ㅎ'. The form of the entire pattern represents constant development with wheels expressing the universe and the sun. The letters symbolize the year of the school opening and ideology of Hongik humanitarianism.  In addition, the overall color of 'Hongik Blue', the school color used for the attire signifies dignity, hope, and trust.

One of the most important design concepts is 'zero waste'. The graduation attire development team used a special cutting method that reduces wastage of fabric. The regalia collar is a y-shape inspired by the traditional shape of the durumagi, and the sleeves of the hanbok were also employed to utilize similar straight lines, curves, and finishes. The new graduation regalia will give greater pride to Hongik students wearing the attire, through more closely reflecting the school's original identity.

Online Communication, Eunsoo Lee