Since its first appearance in the late Joseon period, it has been widely worn[2] as a substitute for the ayam (a cap with a big ribbon on the back).

Although the jobawi was worn by the upper class as well as by commoners, it was mostly used by the yangban aristocracy of that time as a decorative headgear when they went out.

[3][4] The jobawi does not cover the top of the head just like other unisex winter caps such as the ayam, nambawi and the pungcha.

[4] There were jobawi embroidered with beads or adorned with geumbak (gold leaf decoration) which were usually worn by children or young females.

The patterns of the geumbak were usually flowers or letters in hanja reading bugwi (부귀, 富貴, wealth and honors), danam (다남, 多男, many sons), subok (수복, 壽福, long life and happiness), or gangnyeong (강녕 康寧, happiness and peace).