• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1251-1268
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• 2012

This study investigated several cases of interactive learning mediated by exhibits in a natural history hall during visits by middle school students. Five visiting cases were selected, in which visitors engaged actively in the interactions between them. Each visiting case was analyzed in terms of visiting discourse register and the modes of interaction in order to understand both visitors' meaning-making processes through the discourse flow and the characteristics of visiting discourse according to the features of exhibits. Results were as follows. The information provided in the exhibits was used as THEMEs in visitors' discourse and the visitors presented their information on the THEMEs as RHEMEs. The visitors made their own meaning for the exhibits by exchanging their information with each other. Interrogative sentences on the exhibit panels allowed visitors to make arguments. Similar exhibits displayed together helped visitors to compare those exhibits. These two features of the exhibits facilitated visitors' meaning-making processes in the natural history hall. The modes of interaction between visitors mediated by the exhibits showed that the information itself from the exhibits as well as visitors' opinion on the exhibits were frequently used as the elements for in-depth cognitive social interactions that allowed the visitors to construct meaning. Based on these results, we discussed that understanding in detail how visitors choose information from exhibits and construct visiting discourse is very important to improve visitors' collaborative science learning at a natural history hall.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.799-814
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• 2010

This study aimed at developing a set of question cards for fostering deep understanding and encouraging reasoning about fossils and analyze the characteristics of visitors' communication depending on whether to use the question cards in a fossil gallery. Through several steps, a card set consisted of nine generic questions about fossil exhibitions and guidance for using question cards were developed. Data related to visitors' communications were collected from 18 peer groups (from 5th to 9th grade) visiting the fossil gallery of Gwacheon National Science Museum. Visiting groups' interactions were videotape recorded and transcribed. 'Holding time,' the types of 'actions,' and the types of 'conversation' were analysed. Visitors' actions were divided into three categories: ‘look’, 'speech', and 'motion.' Furthermore, visitors' conversations categorized as 'speech' were subdivided into four patterns: 'enumerative,' 'consensual,' 'responsive,' and 'argumentative.' Using the question cards contributes to increase holding time and most of the visiting actions. Most of the conversation patterns also increased except the responsive pattern. In conclusion, using question cards in a fossil gallery could facilitate concentrated and meaningful visits by enhancing active verbal and non-verbal communications between exhibit and visitor or among visitors, encouraging visitors' reasoning about exhibits, and guiding visitors what and how to focus on exhibits.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2018

This study replicated traditional smelting methods to produce iron blooms from sand iron. The metallurgical properties of the slag and the iron blooms were analyzed. The sand iron materials used in the smelting experiments, which were based on ancient documents, were collected from Gyeong-Ju and Pohang. Analysis by WD-XRF and XRD showed that Gyeong-Ju's sand iron contains a high-titanium, with magnetite, and Pohang's sand iron contains a low-titanium, which magnetite and ilmenite were mixed. Analysis of the slag with XRD, and the micro-structure with metal microscopes and SEM-EDS, confirmed that the major compounds in the slag of the Gyeong-Ju's sand iron were fayalite and $w\ddot{u}stite$, and those in the slag of the Pohang's sand iron were titanomagnetite and fayalite. The differences in the main constituents were confirmed according to the Ti quantity. Finally, we observed the microstructures of the iron blooms. In the case of the iron bloom produced from Gyeong-Ju's sand iron, the outside was found to be dominantly a pearlite of eutectoid steel, while the inside was a hypo-eutectoid steel where ferrite and pearlite were mixed together. While, the major component of the iron bloom produced from Pohang's sand iron was ferrite, which is almost like pure iron. However, there were many impurities inside the iron blooms. Therefore, this experiment confirmed that making ironware required a process that involved removing internal impurities, refining, and welding. It will be an important data to identify the characteristics of iron by-products and the site through traditional iron-making experiments under various conditions.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.299-310
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• 2016

The Stele for Buddhist Monk Wonjong at Godalsa Temple Site was destroyed a long time ago. Only the tortoise-shaped pedestal and the ornamental capstone in the form of a hornless dragon remain at the site and the broken stele body is stored at the National Museum of Korea today. The stele is made of two kinds of rocks that are coarse-grained biotite granite for the pedestal and the capstone, and fine-grained biotite granite including hornblende assemblages and feldspar phenocrysts for the stele body. The coarse-grained biotite granite of the pedestal and capstone showed same magnetic susceptibility and lithological characteristics with biotite granite outcrops in Yeoju area, whereas the fine-grained granite of the stele body did not. To find a provenance of the stele body stone, we investigated Korean granites in terms of magnetic susceptibility, lithology and old recordings about construction process of the stele. As a result, Haeju granite is the most likely to be a cognate rock of the stele body stone as it has same texture and lithological characteristics like color, hornblende assemblages, mineral composition and magnetic susceptibility. It is imported from Haeju (North Korea) to South Korea via China commercially, and the most suitable for a replica stone of the stele body.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.525-535
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• 2021

This study identified material properties through scientific analysis on Jikgeumdan(satin with gold threads) from Donggungbi-Wonsam and the gold threads used in the embroidery. The Donggungbi-Wonsam's base of gold threads were estimated to have used mulberry fiber's Korean paper(Hanji) because non-wood-based fibers were observed. The X-ray spectrometer showed that the Tongsuseulan of Donggungbi-Wonsam was a flat gold thread of pure gold and Jikgeumdan of flat silver thread of its Saekdong and Hansam. High sulfur levels were detected in the flat silver thread, which appeared to have formed silver sulfide by either manufacturing process using sulfur or conservation environment. he dragon insignia's embroidery is also described as two types twisted gold threads; pure gold and alloying-gold and silver. while dragon insignia's border line is decorated with a twisted gold thread of pure gold. In particular, it was investigated that adhesives such as an animal glue, a protein-based compound by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Additionally, XRF and Raman spectroscopy analysis on the mixture substances between the metal surface and the base paper of gold threads identified talc and quartz in the gold threads and Seokganju(hematite) in the flat silver threads.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2021

In the present study, safe management and value improvement of bamboo sunblind, which is an item of cultural heritage, were performed by adopting stable conservation treatment methods. The bamboo sunblind used in the present study was excavated from No. 1 catchment site in Baesanseongji, Busan. It was determined that the main material used to make the sunblind was bamboo, and herbal plants were used to weave the bamboo using lacquer as an adhesive agent. All contaminants and soil adhered to the sunblind was removed. Thereafter, the sunblind, which was recovered in the form of blocks, was washed separately after fixing it to a temporary plaster frame and to avoid the blocks from breaking during washing. Then, polyethylene glycol (PEG) impregnation was utilized for the reinforcement treatment. Based on the preliminary test results, the shape of the sunblind was fixed using a stainless-steel frame to prevent physical damage that may occur during the drying process. Thereafter, the bamboo sunblind was vacuum freeze-dried. PEG 20% (in ethyl alcohol) was applied as a surface treatment agent for stabilization the sunblind. After the surface treatment, the bamboo sunblind were joined together to fit the maximum width, and the rectangular shape of the sunblind was restored-as best as possible-while filling in the missing parts by maximizing the use of unknown members such as in the disturbed layers below bamboo sunblind surface. The conservation treatment was completed by fixing the bamboo sunblind into the fabricated frame.

• Journal of the Geological Society of Korea
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.567-578
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• 2018

A nondestructive petrological investigation was carried out to identify the original location and form of the Gyeongju Seated Stone Buddha with Square Pedestals in the Blue House (so-called Stone Buddha in the Blue House). The Statue is a representative stone Buddha statue of Silla (9th century) but its original location is controversial and some parts were missing. Based on the petrological observation, magnetic susceptibility and gamma spectrometry, its stone material was identified as medium-grained alkali feldspar granite. This kind of granites are widely found in the Namsan, Gyeongju. It is very likely that the Namsan granites are the source of rock of the Stone Buddha. The Yudeoksa (Igeosaji temple site) and Namsan are possible to be the original home of the Buddha Statue since there are petrologically identical alkali feldspar granite outcrop distributed in Namsan and stone heritage made of the same stone type in both places. An investigation on the square middle stone base in the Chuncheon National Museum reveals that it is less likely to be the missing part of the Buddha statue as the stone base is fine- to medium-grained pink feldspar granite and has different magnetic susceptibility from the Buddha statue. This study confirmed the contribution and significance of petrological investigation to identification of stone heritage in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.72-99
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• 2012

Cheomseongdae, Korea's so-called "star-gazing tower" located in the former Silla Dynasty capital of Gyeongju, is generally believed to have maintained its original shape since its construction in 647. The stone structure was closely examined and measured by Gyeongju National Museum in 1962 and reexamined by Korean National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in 2009. This research noted the following structural anomalies of Cheomseongdae. A corner of the top rectangle layer was broken diagonally in a form that can never be attributed to a natural cause. The four metal clamps under the top rectangle layer had been missing. Four grooves, with unknown usage, exist on the sides of the long rectangular stones projected out of the circular body at the second and third circular layers from the top. On the second circular layer from the top, there are three flat stones, less than a half as tall as their surrounding stones. The average height of the third circular layer from the top is only 23.5 cm, while the overall average of the entire 27 circular layers is 29.9cm. This research postulates that all these anomalies are due to prior destructions and improper restorations of the structure. The first destruction and restoration of Cheomsengdae was likely to have occurred before the mid 15th century. The damages might include a pavilion on the top of the structure and a stone with the name of the structure carved in. The Mongolian invasion in the 13th century was a most likely cause. After the restoration, the structure suffered at least another attack. The damages on the top layer and the missing iron clamps were due to the later attack. The grooves and flat stones were to house holding device that affixed certain objects to the outer surface of the circular body. The metal or stone objects might have faced upward at the four corners of Chemseongdae, bridging the gaps between the rectangle layers and circular layers. The current Chemseongdae lost at least the four affixed objects, four holding devices, and one flat stone.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.92-107
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• 2018

In 2013~2016, gilt-bronze shoes were excavated from the ancient tombs in Jeongchon Village located at Bogam-ri, Dasi-myeon in Naju. They are estimated to have been made in the late 5th or early 6th centuries. The gilt-bronze shoes are significant in that they serve to explicate the relationship between the center of Baekje and the local forces in the Yeongsan River Basin. This study's specific focus was the gilt-bronze shoes from the ancient tombs in Jeongchon Village. Based on the findings, a restoration drawing was designed and restored products were manufactured by considering metalwork techniques used to manufacture the original ones. At first, manufacturing techniques were tested by using a scientific analysis and visual observation. The manufacturing method, structures, and patterns of the gilt-bronze shoes were closely examined. Then, a design drawing of gilt-bronze shoes was created through field measurement and they were recreated on the basis of the analysis. The original form of the restored products were manufactured through cutting out the outward form, bore carving, engraving, molding, plating, and an assembly process. In the restoration process, this study examined the formal characteristics of gilt-bronze shoes, manufacturing techniques, and archetypes during Baekje's late Hanseong era. Products restored from this study are expected to be used as achievements for more easily understanding the culture of Baekje.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2022

The study aimed to investigate the split casting method based on the recreation of the iron-seated Buddha (ISB) statue (number 1971) in the Chuncheon Museum. The statue was designed using three-dimensional scan data and reduced to half-size. Using the existing research results, the ISB statue was created by mold production and split casting. The mold was prepared by mixing sand and clay at a ratio of 3:4 and 1:3 on the outside and inside, respectively, and then casting was done. Various casting defects were observed in the ISB casting and similar shapes were seen. The casting defects included veining or finning, misrun, open or external shrinkage, surface or subsurface blowholes, surface pinholes, and shift. The microstructures were identified as branch-shaped dendrite and pearlite organizations, and black graphite was observed between the cementite organizations. The study findings may be relevant in exploring traditional casting and manufacturing techniques of ISB and may aid in the production of the original form of ISB.