• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.750-754
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• 2006

Reunification and economic development are discussed as the national visions of the Korean Peninsula in the 21st century. In particular, the tourism industry must be included as one of goals pursued under these visions because tourism indeed seeks for the happiness and peace of human beings. Mt. Kumgang tour began on November 18, 1998 and a land route to Mt. Kumgang also opened on September 1, 2002. These historical events have brought huge changes in the tourism industry of South and North Korea, and over 1,000 tourists are enjoying the Mt. Kumgang tour everyday. Nevertheless, the Mt. Kumgang International Tourism Zone is still poor in tourist accommodations as well as tourism infrastructure. Legal and institutional systems as an international tourism zone have not been established, and incidental and convenience facilities are insufficient. All these problems make it difficult to operate the special zone. Thus, this study set the following objectives to solve these problems: Establish systematic theories on the Mt. Kumgang International Tourism Zone, analyze theories on external factors, factors affecting tourist accommodation expansion, and use the findings as basic materials for tourist accommodation expansion strategies.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.151-167
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• 2016

Conventional social science typically regards the idea of a 'mountain' as part of 'nature' and a physical environment existing separately from, or prior to, human society and culture. However, in Korea, which is 70% mountainous land, the 'mountain' is part of a unique 'social nature'. This research develops the idea that in this context the mountain is a social nature and a cultural landscape which are tied heavily to the idea of travel. The article interrogates why the scenic beauties of Mt. Kumgang have been perceived and conveyed through multiple generations since the Chosun Dynasty period. Focusing on Mt. Kumgang, this article illustrates how strongly people have held dreams of mountain travel, for the whole life-time. Travel writings(or accounts of trips to the mountain) and artwork have played a particularly important role in creating Mt. Kumgang's reputation as the most beautiful mountain in the country. At the same time, the access to the mountain was often a dangerous adventure, with many travelers facing hunger and extreme physical challenges. As portrayed in writings and artwork, the overall effect of these dynamics was the creation of a socionatural place of striking beauty that even seemed to have mystical or magical fantasy. According to Confucian ideals, full appreciation of nature and its beauty was key to understanding the logics of the universe and to achieving a high moral standard, which contributed to decide to leave for the mountain as well. The essays, poems, and paintings of Mt. Kumgang since the Chosun Dynasty period that portrayed the mountain's beauty collectively served to produce the mountain as a socionatural landscape engendered with potent place-myths, important historical meaning, and strong aesthetic associations. Thus, the travel to the mountain seemed never completed over until travelers had completed various artistic representations to record and to memorize what they'd done and seen in Mt. Kumgang, which had been performed for the strong purpose of social sharing of the real the mountain's beauties and itinerary.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.54-70
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to clarify motives, itinerary and general patterns associated with the traveling of the upper class in the Chosun Dynasty based on twenty travel accounts of Mt. Chungryang. In addition, previous studies were referred to in order to compare these trips to Mt. Chungryang with those which were undertaken to Mt. Kumgang so as to identify the unique characteristics of those involved with the trips to Mt. Chungryang and of these trips in themselves. Through this process, unique characteristics, such as the travelers' academic backgrounds and place of origin, as well as how these travelers' relationship with their teachers influenced the motivation for these trips were uncovered, as were the processes through which travel schedules and companions were selected. Moreover, the researcher identified similarities and differences between the travel of Mt. Chungryang and Mt. Kumgang in terms of the travelers' motivation for the trip, the transportation methods they employed, and the kind of accommodation they sought. Moreover while similarities were also uncovered with regards to the travel practices of the literati class during this time, differences emerged in terms of their travel dates and schedules.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.55-73
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• 2006

Inter-Korean cooperative tourism business has turned mutual confrontation and tension between two Koreas for the past 50 years to a peace, stability, mutual understanding and co-prosperity. Currently, with a million tourists visiting Mt. Kumgang, a new chapter for reconciliation and peace opened in inter-Korean cooperation. This study was initiated as an attempt to discern how inter-korean cooperative tourism business can effectively promote local tourism and economy. The purposes of this study are (1) to explore the present tourism situation of Goseong in Gangwon province such as tourism policy, tourism ressources and infrastructure, tourism products and tourist arrivals; (2) to examine the effect of Mt. Kumgang Tourism Business on the tourism development of Goseong; and (3) to investigate any significant relationship among its factors. This study examines the experiences of 189 Goseong resident groups. The findings of this study will provide future policy makers with useful implications in tourism planning and management.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-179
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• 2003

The records of about 60 travel essays of the Hall of Bhaisajyaguru(Healing) Budda which was built in Chung Yang Temple passed down since 1525. The chronological change of that Hall architecture according to each period was traced upon. The building structure of the Hall of Bhaisajyaguru Budda which has a roundabout way, and 6 pillars inside, sometimes each 6 pillars inside and outside is hexagonal, one story building in Japanese colonial period(picture 3-1) or the present(picture 3-3). The panaromic picture of Chung Yang Temple shows no alterations of the layout of buildings(picture 1-1), in which the Hall of $Praj{\tilde{n}}{\bar{a}}$(般若殿), the main building in the center and the Hall of Bhaisajyaguru(Healing) Budda, three story stone pagoda, stone lighthouse in front of it became the central axis. The Hall of Bhaisajyaguru(Healing) Budda remained as it was until Japanese invasions in 1592 and 1597. However, it was greatly damaged by the flood in 1717. It was newly built by Lee Ha Gon's leading in 1717-1732. At that time, the interior design was changed. With Bhaisajyaguru(Healing) Budda, 53 Buddhas and ${\acute{S}}arira$ of Stone stupa which show itself by the flood in 1717 was located in the image of the Mountain of Chunchuk or Cheontae like Yu Jeom Temple. The doors of this Hall are located in the front and back. In the four walls each, two realistic and cubic buddhism pictures were drawn, The color of those picture was partly taken off in 1671 and repainted in 1714. The new building in 1717-1732 regained its colorful appearance. However, the names written beside each Images of Buddha disappeared. The notable remark in these records is that some of these travel essays in 17th-18th centuries was calling this hexagonal hall as the octagonal one. It is very important records because it means that before 1525 the octagonal hall might have existed. Chung Yang Temple was rebuilt between 1976 and 1985 after the destruction in the Korean War. After the records are carefully read, the full scale excavation about this historic site was not done yet. The interesting issue of the existence of octagonal building will be resolved by the full scale excavation.