Marilyn Strickland wears traditional Korean hanbok while being sworn into Congress

‘As a Korean-American woman, I could not be more excited to see you in Congress’

Marilyn Strickland wears hanbok for swearing-in ceremony (Marilyn Strickland / Twitter)

American citizens are praising Marilyn Strickland after she became the first woman to be sworn into Congress while wearing a traditional Korean hanbok.

The Washington representative first made history last year, when she became the first African-American to represent Washington state at a federal level, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

On Sunday, she made history again when she wore a hanbok, a two-piece garment of clothing traditionally worn for important events, during her swearing-in ceremony.

“Today, I was honoured to be sworn into one of the most historically diverse Congresses in history, joining a record number of women, and women of colour, serving in our Democratic Majority,” the representative for Washington's 10th Congressional District wrote on Twitter. “As a woman of both Korean-American and African-American descent, it was deeply personal to wear my #hanbok, which not only symbolises my heritage & honours my mother, but also serves as a larger testament to the importance of diversity in our nation, state, and the People’s House.”

In response to Ms Strickland’s decision to wear the traditional garment for the ceremony, numerous people have expressed their praise while sharing what the representation means to them.

“I cannot express to you how much it means to me to see a hanbok in Congress. Thank you,” one person tweeted.

Another said: “As a woman of Korean and African American descent as well, this is fantastic!  Representation matters!!”

“Picture of Marilyn Strickland being sworn in with her hanbok is enough to make me believe that 2021 will be a gloriously better year,” someone else wrote.

Ms Strickland was born in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to being elected to Congress, she served as mayor of Tacoma, Washington.

The ceremony marked a historical moment for Congress, as it saw a record number of women and women of colour sworn in. According to USAToday,  at least 121 women and 124 people of colour are now in office.