• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.38-55
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• 2021

Cherwon Castle is located in Pungcheonwon, Cherwon, in the center of the Korean Peninsula. Currently, it is split across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. It attracts attention as a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and as cultural heritage that serves as data in making important policy decisions on the DMZ. Despite its importance, however, there has not been sufficient investigation and research done on Cherwon Castle. This is due to the difficulty involved in investigation and research and is caused by the site's inaccessibility. As a solution, the current investigative methods in satellite and aerial archeology can be applied to interpret and analyze the structure of Cherwon Castle and the features of its inner space zoning. Cherwon Castle was built on the five flat hills that begin in the northern mountainous hills and stretch to the southwest. The inner and outer walls were built mainly on the hilly ridges, and the palace wall was built surrounding a flat site that was created on the middle hill. For each wall, the sites of the old gates, which were erected in various directions , have been identified. They seem to have been built to fit the direction of buildings in the castle and the features of the terrain. The castle was built in a diamond shape. The old sites of the palace and related buildings and landforms related to water drainage were identified. It was verified that the roads and the gates were built to run from east to west in the palace. In the spaces of the palace and the inner castle, flat sites were created to fit different landforms, and building sites were arranged there. Moreover, the contour of a reservoir that is believed to be the old site of a pond has been found; it lies on the vertical extension of the center line that connects the palace and the inner castle. Between the inner castle and the outer castle, few vestiges of old buildings were found, although many flat sites were discovered. Structurally, Cherwon Castle is rotated about nine degrees to the northeast, forming a planar rectangle. The planar structure derives from the castle design that mimics the hilly landform, and the bending of the southwestern wall also attests to the intention of the architects to avoid the wetland. For now, it is impossible to clearly describe the functions and characters of the building sites inside the castle. However, it is believed that the inner castle was marked out for space for the palace and government offices, while the space between the outer and inner castle was reserved as the living space for ordinary people. The presence of the hilly landform diminishes the possibility that a bangri (grid) zoning system existed. For some of the landforms, orderly zoning cannot be ruled out, as flat areas are commonly seen. As surveys have yet to be conducted on the different castles, the time when the walls were built and how they were constructed cannot be known. Still, the claim to that the castle construction and the structuring of inner spaces were inspired by the surrounding landforms is quite compelling.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.216-241
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• 2019

There are 35 cultural properties of fourteen kinds in the Demilitarized Zone known so far, but this number is expected to increase in the future. Among them, Cheolwon-Doseong and Jeongol-Chong of Gimhwa should be the first step toward conservation efforts by conducting a joint investigation through the collaboration of North and South Korea. In particular, the joint investigation of Cheolwon-Doseong will not only remind the North and South that they are the same people who have had common history and cultural traditions for a long time, but will also give symbolic meaning to convert the demilitarized zone into a stage for peace. Since Jeongol-Chong is a mass grave of the fallen soldiers of Pyeongan Province who fought against the invasion of the Qing of China, it should be managed as a national designated cultural asset through joint investigation. In addition, the Demilitarized Zone should become a World Heritage Site because of its importance to the legacy of the Korean War, an international war caused by an ideological confrontation. Furthermore, it has more than 6,000 kinds of temperate forests in addition to 100 species of endangered species and natural monuments. The DMZ is very qualified to be a World Natural Heritage Site, and should be included as a World Complex Cultural Heritage Site that qualifies as a World Heritage and World Natural Heritage Site. In the Demilitarized Zone, we can also find numerous highlands, tunnels and posts used during the Korean War, as well as surveillance posts, a military demarcation line, barbed wire fences, and Panmunjom, which were created by the armistice agreement. it would be desirable to select some of its sections and war facilities and to register them as modern cultural heritage assets. Finally, it is necessary to reconstruct the Dorasan Signal Fire Site, which was the communication facility of a traditional era which connected the South (Dorasan) and North (Gaesong). This would symbolize smooth communication between the two Koreas. In order to prepare for the reckless development of the Demilitarized Zone due to the upcoming cease-fire, the government and cultural asset experts will have to work hard to identify and preserve the cultural properties of the Demilitarized Zone, and they will also have to maintain consistent control over matters such as indiscriminate investigation and mine clearance.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.258-271
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• 2019

Recent changes in inter-Korean relations have encouraged South Korean archaeologists' interest in northern cultural heritage and their desire to conduct research. However, it is doubtful how much the South Korea really knows about the cultural ruins in North Korea and the cultural ruins to be found in the DMZ. In Korea, research data on the Japanese colonial period is scattered amongst national institutions and it is not possible to to collect, identify and document the data available in each institution. Typically, the data of Keiichi Ogawa(小川敬吉) is difficult to understand in its printed from. In addition, Ogawa has collected data from several national government agencies, and work is underway to collect architectural data and construct digital archives. This situation will not occur if we publish the data collected so far in digital form. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fully disclose the data related to Cheolwon which is owned by national institutions. If this data is analyzed, sufficient archaeological information can be obtained without excavation. On the other hand, one must wonder if the whole landscape of Cheolwon castle of Taebongguk cand be understood by investigating the interior of Cheolwon castle. This effort should be preceded by a survey on the ruins and the remains of the southern part of the southern boundary line. Rapid development and large-scale arrangement of cultivated land are likely to make it difficult to restore the external landscape related to the tillage demand that is required by the current situation. In the process of restoration of the actual Gyeongwon Line, it has been confirmed that serious irregularity has caused damage and the landscape has been transformed. In order to minimize these risks, it is urgent that we investigate the relics scattered in the southern part of the country, and not devote ourselves to the investigation of Cheolwon. In this regard, how much military, roads, excavation and archaeologists are prepared, centered on Cheolwon and scenery is an important question. I am curious as to how much preparation is provided to the Chulwon-gun and Gangwon-do in terms of administrative assistance, and how much archaeologists and excavation agencies are aware of the archaeological information of the inside and the southern part of the DMZ. Furthermore, how long have people been aware of the archaeological remains on the North Korean side? In order for da iscussion on Cheolwon and scenery to progress, it is necessary to carry out a precise investigation and accumulation of data on the remains in South Korea.