Gucci cancels fashion show at Gyeongbok Palace after backlash over Vogue Blue House photoshoot

Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul at night [YONHAP]

Amid controversy surrounding fashion magazine Vogue’s photoshoot at the Blue House, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and fashion industry insiders said Monday that a Gucci fashion show set to be held at central Seoul’s Gyeongbok Palace has been canceled.

According to a CHA official, the CHA and Gucci Korea originally planned to host the “Gucci Cosmogonie Fashion Show in Seoul Gyeongbok Palace” on Nov. 1 around the palace’s main hall Geunjeongjeon. Cosmogonie is reportedly a new collection launched by the luxury fashion brand, and 500 people were invited to attend.

While the show aimed to promote the beauty of Gyeongbok Palace, a representative royal residence of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it is reported that recent criticism of a Vogue photoshoot at the Blue House led officials to cancel the event.

The Vogue fashion photoshoot was criticized as inappropriate considering the historical significance of the Blue House, the previous home of the presidential office.

“We had received approved and were preparing for the event before the [Blue House] photoshoot surfaced as a problem,” a CHA official said. “We expected the events to have many [positive] effects, but it will be difficult to go on with the event in this current situation.”

“Not many foreigners have seen what Gyeongbok Palace looks like at night with the lighting on,” the official added. “It would have been a good opportunity to promote the palace to the world, but we feel pressure that this may become a point of political contention.”

Had the event gone ahead, it would have marked the first time for a fashion show to be held in the Geunjeongjeon area, which used to host major national events and foreign diplomats in the Joseon Dynasty.

“We had prepared for a long time in order to promote the cultural and academic value of Gyeongbok Palace to the world,” said Gucci Korea. “However, we are in discussion considering the recent controversy and public sentiment.”

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]