'Binyeo', A Korean Hairpin Featured in Period K-Dramas

A crucial part of Korean jewelry throughout the three kingdom era, Binyeo wasn’t just an aesthetic delight but disclosed a person’s identity, class, and beyond

- DEBASHREE DUTTA

It’s interesting, how well jewelry may transcend cultural barriers; the Binyeo, for instance, is a manifestation of such crossings that connect people globally. The other day, I saw my mom braiding a bun and slipping a patterned hairpin while preparing for an event. The gorgeous bling, she said, was purchased from Kurseong last year. “That does resemble a Binyeo,” I said. I’ve seen them a lot in period K-dramas.

This could be a fallacy; I’m not sure though—the Binyeo was supposed to have an impact on the deaths of a female’s parents. Some would remove them and let their hair fall as a sort of reparation for their belief that they were to blame for the loss. Later, they would make a hair bun and swap out their Binyeo for a wooden one that would be used for the next few years.