Analysis of the Technology Distribution and Characteristics of Hanbok Fabric Patents

This study examines the distribution and structural characteristics of Hanbok material technologies using patent data and draws implications for R&D and policy planning. Patents registered from 1980 to 2024 were retrieved from the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) using the keywords Hanbok material, Hanbok fabric, Hanbokji, and Hanbok textile. After de-duplication and relevance screening, 65 patents were analyzed. A mixed-method approach combined frequency and time-series analyses, factor analysis, and k-means clustering with a full-sample qualitative review of abstracts, claims, and drawings. Results show that Hanbok material patents do not converge on a single fiber type; instead, they develop through multi-layered combinations of (1) yarn and fabric formation, (2) finishing and pattern dyeing/printing, and (3) embroidery decoration. Fabric formation—particularly fabric structure design and weaving process development—accounted for the largest share. A notable portion was classified as “raw-material-irrelevant,” indicating that process innovation, rather than fiber selection, constituted the technical core in some inventions. Patenting activity increased after the 2000s and concentrated in the 2010s. In the 2020s, finishing became relatively more prominent, repeatedly targeting daily-wear performance such as cooling comfort, easy care, and washability. Factor analysis yielded four latent dimensions: natural-based patterning/dyeing, yarn-based material development, silk-related finishing/surface treatment, and embroidery decoration. Clustering grouped patents into three technology types, suggesting identifiable technology-group structures. Individual applicants dominated filings, and many patents had lapsed, implying constraints in post-grant validation, commercialization, and maintenance. Overall, the findings support the development of technology-type-specific evaluation indicators and the strengthening of validation-to-commercialization support for Hanbok material technologies. By jointly considering technology composition, temporal change, and rights status, the study identifies practical points for targeted R&D investment and support. Future research will extend the scope to include garment construction patents, as well as utility models and design registrations, to examine linkages among technology, form, and commercialization.