'She's Gone' vocalist to receive appreciation letter from Korea for promoting hanbok

Miljenko Matijevic, right, vocalist of Steelheart, is dressed in hanbok in the music video of the rock band's upcoming song "Trust in Love." Captured from YouTube

By Kim Rahn

Miljenko Matijevic, the vocalist of rock band Steelheart, will receive a letter of appreciation from the Korean government for promoting hanbok, after wearing the Korean traditional clothing in the group's upcoming music video, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Monday.

The ministry said the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles would hold a ceremony, Friday (EST), awarding the letter and an article of hanbok to the singer, who is best known in Korea for the band's 1990s hit song "She's Gone."

The ministry has been issuing letters of appreciation to people who have contributed to the promotion of hanbok around the world.

Matijevic appears in hanbok in the music video of the group's new song "Trust in Love," which will be officially released at midday on Thursday (KST). In the video, which was partially disclosed on the band's YouTube channel earlier this month, the hanbok-clad singer strikes a bell at the San Pedro Korean Bell of Friendship in California, which symbolizes Korea-U.S. alliance.

Other dancers also appear in hanbok and perform traditional Korean dances in front of the pavilion of the bell.

According to the cultural center, the "She's Gone" star said he wrote the song with the theme of unity, peace and love after being inspired by TV news stories about the relations between North and South Korea.

Trot singer Song Ga-in / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The selection of Matijevic to receive an appreciation letter has followed a recent controversy over China's alleged "cultural appropriation" attempts. During the opening ceremony of the Winter Games, a performer wearing hanbok appeared as one of the representatives of 56 minor ethnic groups in the country ― which many Koreans viewed as another form of cultural appropriation by the Beijing authorities.

Besides the letter of appreciation to Matijevic, the ministry appointed trot singer Song Ga-in as an honorary ambassador with the responsibility to promote hanbok.

The ministry and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation have appointed artists as hanbok promotion ambassadors since 2014. Last year's ambassador was actress and singer Jun Hyo-seong.

Song will participate in hanbok-related events and online promotional activities. The ministry plans to appoint more artists for the traditional costume's promotion this year.

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