"Chanel Bag Kept at Home, Taking This Opportunity... Full Attention at the Parents' Meeting"

"I brought out the Chanel bag I had kept at home this time, and if I had gone casually, it would have been a big problem."

A in their 40s, whose child recently entered elementary school, attended an open class and parent-teacher meeting (Hakchong) held at an elementary school in Seoul on the 17th. In a review posted on a local community, they said, "Most of the moms carried luxury bags and paid attention to their clothes."

In-person entrance ceremony held for the first time in 4 years. (This photo is not directly related to the article)
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In response, comments included, "I wore a special outfit just for the Hakchong," "I paid a lot of attention so my child wouldn't feel inferior. I even stopped by the hair salon," "I was careful with a sophisticated and elegant outfit and bag that wasn't too flashy," "I went on a diet and visited a dermatologist starting a month before the meeting," and "I was fully decked out, and the bag and clothes together cost several million won."

As mid-March arrives, parent-teacher meetings are being held at schools nationwide. The parent-teacher meeting is an official event where parents meet the homeroom teacher and learn about the school's operational plans. It is a place to inform parents about the focus of education, the events planned for the year, and overall school life. Meetings with the homeroom teacher also take place. Attendance is not mandatory, and not attending does not disadvantage the child, but from the parents' perspective, it is a place they cannot ignore.

This year's Hakchong is being held face-to-face for the first time in four years since COVID-19, drawing high interest from parents. For parents of children now in the 4th grade, known as the 'COVID generation,' this is the first parent-teacher meeting held in a real space rather than online.

Accordingly, there are many questions among parents on online communities and social media about "what to wear and bring." Hashtags like ‘Parent-Teacher Meeting Look’ and ‘Parent-Teacher Meeting Fashion’ have appeared on social media. Since it is an event related to their children, parents inevitably pay attention to the eyes of teachers, other parents, and their children's friends.

Among parents who try to look effortlessly stylish, the fashion of Lee Boo-jin, President of Hotel Shilla, who recently appeared at a school event, is frequently mentioned.

Earlier in February, Lee attended her son's middle school graduation ceremony wearing a cropped Chanel tweed jacket, wide bootcut denim pants, and a large plain leather bag.

However, some say the essence of the Hakchong as a place to share information about school life has been lost. On local mom communities, posts say, "I used a luxury rental service, but I wonder if it’s really necessary to go this far," and "It’s exhausting to be so concerned about appearances."