A Comparison Analysis of Color Characteristics and Images in Flight Attendant Uniforms of Korea, China and Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to conduct a comparison analysis of color in the characteristics and image of Korea/China/Japan airline uniforms. Research subjects for this research included 19 Korean, Chinese and Japanese airlines servicing the Incheon International Airport in South Korea. The analysis methods are based on the Munsell Color Order System and PCCS (Practical Color Coordinate System) tone classification in order to examine the color characteristics. For the color image analysis, the present research performed a positioning on Shigenobu Kobayashi's color images scale with adjectives in order to compare the resulting differences. As a result of the analysis, this research discovered the following; First, achromatic colors were found to be used most frequently in flight attendant uniforms of Korea/China/Japan. In Korean flight attendant uniforms, YR/Y, GY and B/PB/P; in Chinese, R/PB, RP, YR/Y/GY and BG/P; in Japanese, RP, R/P/PB and Y/BG were found in order. As for the main uniform colors, Korean flight attendant uniforms were found to be in the colors YR, and R/GY/B/P; Chinese flight attendant uniforms, R, PB, and P/B; and Japanese flight attendant uniforms, R, BG, B, RP and N. Second, Korean flight attendant uniforms used W and It most frequently; China flight attendant uniforms, W; and Japanese flight attendant uniforms, W and v. Regarding the main colors, Korean flight atteddant uniforms used lt/g and v/p; Chinese flight attendant uniforms, v, dp and s/d/dkg; and Japanese flight attendant uniforms, v/dkg and Bk. Third, after positioning each country’s uniform color combination bars on the Kobayashi image scale, Korean flight attendant uniforms showed classic images along with casual/pretty/elegant/chic images; Chinese flight attendant uniforms displayed, casual images as well as, dynamic/gorgeous/chic/cool casual/dandy images; and finally, Japanese flight attendant uniforms converyed dandy images along with casual/gorgeous images. This research findings indicate that Korea/China/Japan airlines' flight attendant uniforms seek for differentiated image establishment by reflecting their own CIs and unique national cultures in the uniform color marketing.