• Journal of architectural history
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.49-62
• /
• 2023

This research aims to investigate Park Kilyong's architectural theory and critique of Gyeongseong (Seoul) buildings, expressed in his 'Overview of Modern Buildings in Gyeongseong' and 'Critique of Gyeongseong Buildings' (Samcheolli, Sept. and Oct. 1935); and 'Architectural Form of the 100% Function' and 'The Modern and Architecture (1)-(4)' (Dong-A Daily, 28 Jul. to 1 Aug. 1936). As a result, it is confirmed that Park had the functionalist theory of modern architecture, which suggests that Korean architects of the Japanese colonial period were accommodating the contemporary trend of world architecture. However, Park shows his fundamental limitations in the fact that the main content of his articles was a verbatim translation of two Japanese references (Kurata, 1927; Ishihara, 1929) without proper indications. Despite the limitations, his texts are still meaningful since he formed his own architectural theory on the basis of what he translated; and indeed his critique of Gyeongseong buildings, however simple, was based on the theory. This research makes a critical analysis of Park's functionalist theory from both the 1930s' and present points of view and compares his commentaries on Gyeongseong architecture with those by Ko Yu-seop (1932) and Hong Yunsick (1937), illustrating how Korea perceived architecture and modernism in 1930s.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.117-132
• /
• 2019

The study examines the significance and limits of modern park planning by analyzing major planning documents of Gyeongseong in the Japanese colonial era. Among seven selected documents from 1925 to 1940, which show the contents related with park planning, documents of 1930 and 1940 presented the official park plan of Gyeongseong. By the 1920s, the park plan was not a major concern in urban planning of Gyeongseong; however, as the planning law as enacted in 1934, the park plan legally became a part of the official master planning process in the 1930s. In 1940, the most comprehensive park plan for Gyeongseong was published. In the beginning of modern urban planning, a park was mainly perceived as a sanitation utility. From the 1920s to the 1930s, the park planning system was significantly improved including systemic classification of parks, guideline development considering spatial planning, and introduction of a concept of infra-structural green space. Despite of the improvement in the park planning, the actual quantity of the overall green spaces barely changed and there was a huge discrepancy between the planning ideal and the reality. The Gyeongseong stadium was the only facility newly built in the 1920s, and only two parks were constructed in the 1930s. The plan to build 38 new parks in the 1930, and 140 in the 1940 was barely realized. However, there were efforts to improve parks and green spaces of Gyeongseong: Such as appropriating natural forest as parks, designating royal palaces as parks, and focusing on constructing smaller scale children's parks. Even though the ideal plan could not be fully implemented due to the war time situation and tight budget, the park system of Gyeongseong provided the framework of park planning of Seoul after the independence.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.54-65
• /
• 2020

This study examines history, usage, and spatial change of Cheoldo Park and its significance in the park planning in the Japanese colonial period focusing on the concept of a sports park. Cheoldo Park was verified as the first newly planned park built during the Japanese colonial period and continuously appeared in the official planning documents with different names and areas as a new planned park. This suggest that changes of Cheoldo Park reveal the important conceptual transition in the park planning. Activities in the park were understood by analyzing news paper articles and pictures, while spatial changes of the park were analyzed through maps and aerial photos. Changes in a park planning process were examined through analyzing the planning documents and maps. Cheoldo Park was opened in 1915 as a supporting facility of the Yongsan rail company residence complex. As Cheoldo Park became one of the urban parks of Gyeongseong in 1925, it had functioned as one of the main sports complexes of Gyeongseong. Although a sports park was suggested as a new type of urban park in the 1930's park plan, the programmatic aspect of a sports park was not distinctly defined yet. Cheoldo Park was not regarded as a sports park in the 1930's park plan. As a sports park was distinguished from other types of urban parks pro grammatically in the 1930s, the city tried to transform Cheoldo Park into a sports park. In the park plan of 1940, with major spatial expansion, Cheoldo Park became Ichon Park to be a main large park and sports park of Gyeongseong. Cheoldo Park contributed to the establishing a new direction of modern park planning, shifting from planning focus on quantitative improvement to qualitative improvement of urban parks. It also provided a realistic model to implement the park plans to overcome various limitations of the Japanese colonial period.

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

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

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.150-158
• /
• 2018

The deteriorating role of Nakdong River due to the Four Major Rivers Project has caused a series of problems, including water pollution, drying streams, aggravation of the hydroecology. Geumho River and Gyeongseong-cheon had a higher concentration index and is believed to impact the water quality of the main stream. The influence index of Geumho River and Nam River between 2015 and 2016, which have a large amount of discharge, was the highest among the tributaries in terms of the load material balance. Showing the highest average concentration and average load in the index assessment, Geumho River is believed to require an intensive management for improving the water quality of the main stream. Furthermore, when the cumulative percentage of the average concentration and average load was compared based on the water quality improvement of the tributaries mixed to Nakdong River, which was set to 60%, Geumho River, Nam River, Topyeong-cheon, and Cha-cheon, which showed the highest ratio in that order, were determined to require a water quality management program as a priority.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.127-142
• /
• 2018

Ttukseom was once a suburban area that had a government horse ranch for national use and a naenogpo (area of royal farm land). During the Japanese colonial period, a pleasure ground was built at Ttukseom, and after independence, it has been used as a park through the process of urbanization. This study examines the creation of the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground and the process through which the pleasure ground were transformed to a park. This study also explores its landscape and cultural aspects. In the 1930s, Gyeongseonggwedo (京城軌道), a private railway company, built a pleasure ground at Ttukseom to attract passengers, according to the business model of Japanese railway companies, in which recreational areas were developed near railway routes. Mass media portrayed this area as a "rural landscape" in contrast to the city. The Ttukseom Pleasure Ground emerged as a popular summer resort for Gyeongseong citizens. At the same time, it was managed by Gyeongseongbu (京城府). The city of Seoul began to manage the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground following independence, and development plans for Ttukseom as a pleasure ground or a park were continuously drafted but never implemented. Even after Korea's independence, the operation and use of the pleasure ground did not change significantly from the colonial era. In the late 1980s, the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground became the Ttukseom Han River Citizen's Park, and the sandy beach of the Han River was removed. Nonetheless, the previous facilities and major activities such as an open-air swimming pool, camp ground, and areas for boat recreation remained as major park programs. When the urbanization of Ttukseom was completed, its idyllic image disappeared and it became a park instead of a pleasure ground. Since parks expand their programs, it can be concluded that by providing those kinds of programs, the Ttukseom Pleasure Ground transformed to a park.

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
• /
• no.48
• /
• pp.51-84
• /
• 2012

In Korea, historical plays took an epoch-making turn from the previous historical plays in terms of approaches to topic and material and methods of rewriting history in the 1990s. Historical plays became dehistoricized with individual, everyday life, and faction emerging as major codes of historical plays according to mistrust in history and grand narrative as the original and disappearance of trust in the growth and totality of history. A new trend became dominant of presenting fictionality prominent instead of reproduction of history and freely playing with history outside the context. While modern historical plays were subject to the content of history, post-modern historical plays sought after new history writing to tell a new story on history within a framework of fiction. Focusing on some of the trends in post-modern historical plays since the 1990s, which include play with history, daily life-style history writing, and reproduction patterns of colonial modernity, this study examined the goals, representations, and text strategies of new history writing in three historical plays, Generation After Generation(2000) by Park Geunhyung, The Mercenaries(2000) by Park Sujin, and Chosun Detective Hong Yunshik(2007) by Sung Giwoong. In Generation After Generation, the author adopts a plot of starting with the present and tracing back to the past, breaking down the myth of racially homogeneous nation. At the same time, he discloses that the colonial history is not just by the oppressive force of Japan but also by the voluntary cooperation of Korean people. That is, we are also accountable for the colonial history of the nation. The Mercenaries contrasts the independence movement during the colonial period against the modern history developed after Liberation, thus highlighting the still continuing coloniality, namely post-colonial present. The past is presented as the "phantom of history" making its appearance according to the request of the present hoping for salvation. The author politicizes history and grants political wishes to history by summoning the history by personal memories such as fictional diaries and letters with Messiah-like images opposed to the present of collapse and catastrophe. In Chosun Detective Hong Yunshik, the author makes an attempt at the microscopic reproduction of daily life by approaching the 1930s as the modern period when capitalist daily life started to take root. The lists of signs comprising daily life in colonial Gyeongseong are divided between civilization and savagery and between modern and premodern. With the progress of narrative, however, they become mixed together and reversed in the representation system in which the latter overwhelms the former.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.103-117
• /
• 2013

This research analyzed the spatial components and establishment of the Tap-gol Park according to the plans between 1897 to 1916 when the discussions on the construction of the park began and it was accomplished as an urban park. The results are as follows. The establishment of Tap-gol Park can be divided by three period. Firstly, Tap-gol Park was owned by the royal family from 1987 to 1904. The discussions on construction of Tap-gol Park as a first urban park of Gyeongseong(京城) in 1897, and the private houses were tear down in order to secure land for the park in 1899. Gates and fences surrounding of Tap-gol Park were organized and it was opened in 1902 based on park plane of turtle - shaped. The octagonal pavilion for 'Lee-Wang-Jik musical band(李王職音樂隊)' was relocated in the southwestern part of the park in 1903. Secondly, Tap-gol Park was used actively by the public between 1910 to 1913, because it was opened for individuals. Also The boundary of Park were changed by surrounding facilities and recreational facilities and benefits was complemented for users. Tap-gol park was opened at nighttime in August 1913. Tap-gol Park was used as a place of amusement park. Thirdly, commercial facilities were made as the park facility between 1914 to 1916. The purpose of 'Kkikdajeom(喫茶店)' was similar to the one of modern cafes. It was built as a typical Japanese tea-house with a small pond having an island and a bridge constructed inside. With the increase of usage of Tap-gol Park as a recreational area by the citizens in 1916, the pavilion as a rest area and toilet as amenities were supplemented. Superintendent's office was equipped too. Simple chairs made from the wooden logs were installed around greenhouse, concert hall, the Wongaksa Buddhist temple(圓覺寺址十層石塔), and the flower garden was fenced round. After the relocation of Yongsan music band to Tap-gol Park, the existing concert hall was demolished. The shape of the park which was seen from the pictures of the magazines of 1920s were achieved as early as 1916. The importance of this research includes the basis to revise the errors of the preexistence researches and value of historical material of the design plan reference of the park which was accomplished during the Japanese colonial era. Also this research is to study on the spatial components of the modern landscape architecture and parks.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.10-23
• /
• 2021

During the Japanese colonial period, the palaces of Joseon were damaged in many parts. Changgyeonggung Palace is the most demolished palace with the establishment of a zoo, botanical garden, and museum. During the Japanese colonial period, the palaces of Joseon were damaged in many parts. This study examined the construction process of Jangseogak(Yi Royal-Family Museum), located right next to the Jagyeongjeon site, which was considered the most important space in the Changgyeonggung residential area of royal family zone, through historical materials and field research. Built in 1911, Jangseogak is located at a location overlooking the entire Changgyeonggung Palace and overlooking the Gyeongseong Shrine of Namsan in the distance. Changes in the surrounding space during the construction of Jangseogak can be summarized as follows. First, in the early 1910s, the topography of the garden behind Jagyeongjeon and part of the Janggo were damaged to create the site of Jangseogak. The front yard was built in the front of Jangseogak, and a stone pillar was installed, and a staircase was installed to the south. In the process, the original stone system at the rear of Yanghwadang was destroyed, and it is presumed that Jeong Iljae and other buildings were demolished. Second, in the 1920s, many pavilions were demolished and the zoo and botanical gardens and museums were completed through leveling. After the Jangseogak was completed, the circulation of the Naejeon and surrounding areas was also changed. Cherry trees and peonies were planted in the flower garden around the front yard of Jangseogak and the stairs, and a Japanese-style garden was created between Yanghwadang and Jibbokheon. Third, in the 1930s, the circulation around Jangseogak was completed in its present form, and the museum, Jangseogak, Zoological and Botanical Gardens, and Changgyeonggung, which became a cherry tree garden, were transformed into a Japanese-style cultural park. After that, the surrounding space did not change much until it was demolished. The restoration of the present palace is a long-term, national project of the Cultural Heritage Administration. The results of this study will provide important data for the restoration plan of Changgyeonggung Palace in the future, and it is expected that it will provide additional information to related researchers in the future.