Fashioning identity and ideology: A case study of a ‘quality’ period K-drama Inspiring Generation

Building on recent works that emphasize symbol-makers and their roles in the meaning-making process, this article endeavours to investigate how identity and ideology are embodied through television costume in the culture of South Korean television production, from the point of view of a costume designer, with reference to a case study: K-drama Gamgyuksidae (Inspiring Generation) (2014). This study departs from a typical Marxist ideological analysis, and instead uses a mixed methodological approach: a participant observation combined with a close textual analysis. This article is divided into three parts. The first examines the television costuming production culture of K-drama Gamgyuksidae. The second focuses on the costume produced for the expression of identity, which is examined under three heads: social, gender and national identity. Lastly, the final part examines how costumes in Gamgyuksidae are designed or stylized to communicate ideology. This study expects to expand the understanding of Korean culture at a time when Korean codes are spreading worldwide due to the Korean Wave, as well as for Koreans to understand their own culture better by seeing the limitations and advantages of their own meaning-making practice.