kot-shin (Shoes)

In the early 1970s, western-style shoes were normally worn. It was mostly older women who wore rubber shoes made in the traditional style. By this time traditional Korean clothes were only worn at special occasions. Before 1919, rubber shoes in Korean style were imported from Japan. The first rubber factory in Korea was in 1913. Shoes were made in the same form as traditional Korean shoes, and were advertised as being practical and comfortable, as well as being affordable, so they were adopted by ordinary people and became common. During the Korean War period they became expensive. Black shoes were made from the rubber from used tires, and white ones became coveted and expensive. They stopped making painted shoes in Korea in the 1970s. They were later made of rubber with embroidered satin. The small heel is a modern style, as traditional Korean shoes did not have heels. The shape of girls’ shoes was more decorative than those for men and boys. Such decorated shoes were worn at New Year, or another special holiday, with traditional clothing. Children cherished them, and sometimes carried them to preserve them. They were sometimes given as New Year’s gifts.

Shoes were machine-made but hand-painted.

Pair of flat-soled shoes with upturned toes, made of rubber. Soles are pale yellow, and have raised wavy lines except under arch. Arch has fine raised diagonal lines, with a stylized rising sun in the centre with four Chinese characters above and four Korean characters below. Shoes have low sides and are higher at the heels.Toes and heels are painted dark blue; sides are painted red with painted floral motifs and zigzag bands in yellow, gold, and green. There is a narrow band of white at the top, and a vertical white line at the centre front. Insoles are white are stamped in red with an oval with three Chinese characters above head of a bearded man, with more characters below. Below this is a round paper label printed in red, gold, and yellow. Below this is a rectangle stamped in blue with 140 and a Chinese character and 0.3 (shoes 1661/7 a-b are stamped 0.2) and a Chinese character. Below is a rectangular stamp in green with three Chinese characters, below which is a green square enclosing the number 45.