• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.124-139
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• 2015

Unlike other mountains in Korea, Seoul Namsan(南山), which is one of the landmarks that represent the country's capital city, is perceived as a city park. This article aims to study the process that Namsan became a park and the transformation of its place in Korean Emperor and Japanese colonial period. The serial changes in Namsan, in early modern era, mean that is associated with the colonial urbanization and the rule of space by Japan. The stages of Waeseongdae Park(倭城臺公園), Gyeongseong Park(京城公園) and Hanyang Park(漢陽公園) under the leadership of Japan, due to the extension of Japan's power, Namsan has became the park. Here, the park has become a strategic tool of other's occupying Hanseongbu(漢城府), a capital city. The process that Namsan became a park dose not mean making the space for recreation and rest, but is an excuse for using the land. Since then, Namsan's parks barely fulfilled its original function as park as it was transformed into a shrine, Gyeongseong Jinjya(京城神社), for Japanese warriors or was incurred upon by Joseon Singung(朝鮮神宮), which was established as a facility to govern Korea, sometimes is gradually and sometimes is mercilessly. The fact, transplantation of Japanese culture and replacement as ruler space, is another aspect of occupying and govern place. In other words, while the process that Namsan became a park is the way of establishing Japanese force, the transformation of its place show a colonial rule as an aspect of space. Meanwhile, in spite of transformation to shrine, Namsan became accepted as a park for a long time, because of the forest of Namsan. Japan managed forest as a sacred place. It is also a result of the Japanese rule of space.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.42
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• pp.23-46
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• 2016

This article focused on heterotopian spaces of modern Korea in the colonial era. This paper attempted to understand the features of heterotopia in the era. Heterotopia was slightly grotesque in modernity, but in the colonial era, people expected to realize the hope of contemporary society. Also, while analyzing discourses on heterotopia, this study identified another point of view on modernity in the era,. Pagoda Park, where March First Independence Movement was conducted and the psychiatric hospital East Ward Eighth, were heterotopian spaces at the times. Those spaces are represented as failure of modernity. Nevertheless, those spaces functioned as utopia, where people could speak freely on 'the independence'. But the governing system considered such speech as deceptive strange stories. Strange stories that inexplicably, revealed imperfection of the governing system and caused anxiety about the foundation of daily life. In conclusion, this article could provide understanding of another side of acceptance of modernity in the colonial era i.e., anxiety. It was revealed through the finding of heterotopia and analyzing discourses on heterotopia in the colonial Korea.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.311-324
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• 2017

This study has the purpose of geopolitical analysis on the role, function and problem of (trans) frontier park in Southern Africa. Frontier parks in Southern Africa had been used as a buffer zone between colonial empires and British colonial administration during the colonial period and as an interdiction zone of communism and black liberation movement during the apartheid regime, the cold war and the civil war. The ecological transfrontier peace parks in Southern Africa which is integrating the adjacent Frontier parks is utilized as a means of a conflict resolution and peace building after the end of cold war, civil war and apartheid regime, The ecological transfrontier peace parks in Southern Africa is very highly regarded as an effective means for a conflict resolution and peace building. But it is also being criticized for a reproduction of South Africa's politico-economic domination and of a socio-spatial division between racial groups.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.14-21
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• 2016

This article explores Changgyeongwon's spatial and cultural characteristics that were created there as the first modern urban park in Kyeongseong in the Japanese colonial era. First, in point of comparison regarding a colonial historical view, the study tried to understand the background of Changgyeongwon's establishment as well as three aspects of Changgyeongwon's characteristics as a modern urban park. The study found that; First, foreign envoys and high ranking members had visited Changgeongwon in the early opening period. This shows that this site was a park for foreign propaganda and modern display. Second, Changgyeongwon was altered as a place of enlightenment in the 1920s. This is related to the tendency of Changgyeongwon's increasing popularity around this period. More facilities and events particularly for women and children were offered at that time. Third, investigating the historical records, Changgyeongwon's cultural characters as a park are discussed. Changgyeongwon was an important place creating a modern park culture in Kyeongseong in the colonial era.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.95-112
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• 2013

Jangchungdan Park is now perceived as a mere park at the foot of Namsan mountain, but originally it was created to commemorate soldiers of Korean Empire on a site which name was Namsoyeong(南小營) during Joseon Dynasty. During the period of Japanese colonial rule, it was transformed into a park due to the rapidly changing circumstances, so the components expressing the validity of the colonial rule were introduced into the park. This paper examines the time sequential changes of Jangchungdan Park during the period of Japanese colonial rule, and the conclusions can be summarized as given below. Firstly, the park originally was a space to commemorate the soldiers who fought for the Korean Empire. It was built on formerly restricted area at the foot of Namsan Mountain in 1900, and it was arranged putting the ceremonial shrine Dansa (壇祠) as a central building and the annexes in the surroundings of it. The memorial ceremonies were held regularly in spring and autumn until 1909. Secondly, it became a city park for citizens of Gyeongseong-bu(the name of Seoul under the Japanese colonial rule). The authorities of Gyeongseong-bu reorganized Jangchungdan as a park in 1919, prohibited the performance of memorial ceremonies, and the existing buildings except the ceremonial shrine Dansa began to be used as park management facilities. Resting areas and amenities were supplemented for the usage of people from various backgrounds, and the large scale planting of cherry trees made the park a famous place to enjoy cherry-blossoms and other flowers in spring. Thirdly, it was reconstructed as a space to honor the influential personalities of Japanese colonial system. In 1932, Bankmun temple (博文寺) to commemorate Ito Hirobumi was constructed at a location that made it possible for a number of people to overlook Jangchungdan area. During that time, the buildings of traditional Joseon architecture were removed and reconstructed to serve as annexes to Bankmun temple. Due to the strategy to make Jangchungdan park a tourist attraction, Bankmun temple was included into the Gyeongseong sightseeing course, since the wide panorama of Jangchungdan Park and the whole city of Gyeongseong was opening from the temple. Various different components were introduced into Jangchungdan Park due to the rapidly changing circumstances; therefore the nature of the park was either altered or reproduced. Hopefully, the park rearrangement works will be executed paying respects to the memories of the past hereafter.