A Study on the Kyung-bu Costume (Uniform of the Police)

경부복식(警部服飾) 소고(小考)

In 1895(32nd year of King Ko-Jong), Kyung-moo-chung as westernized police system was established and the uniform of the police developed. Regarding to the Uniform of the Kyung-bu-dai-sin(the Minister Kyung-bu) and to that of the Sun-gum(the low position of the Kyung-bu police), the Kyung-bu costume(Uniform of the police) is divided as Ye-bok(Formal uniform) and Sang-bok(Informal uniform). Ye-bok(Formal uniform) is put on in the case of the law described, and Sang-bok(Informal uniform) is an everyday wear. Ye-bok(Formal uniform) is composed of Ye-mo(hat), Eui(jacket), Go(trousers), Dai(decorative belt), Do(decorative sword), and Hwa(footwear). Sang-bok(Informal uniform) is composed of Sang-mo(hat), Eui(jacket), Go(trousers), and Hwa(footwear). Differences between Sang-bok(Informal uniform) and Ye-bok(Formal uniform) is the materials of the ornament, numbers of the decorative lines. Ye-bok(Formal uniform) has more grandeur[ornament. A historic changes in the Kyung-bu costume(Uniform of the police) during the late of Yi Dynasty was little but the decorative materials and the numbers of the decorative line.