• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.38-57
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• 2018

Led by the Cultural Heritage Administration, studies on the cultural heritage of railways have merely focused on modern registered cultural heritage and on excavating the cultural heritage of modern rail transportation. Endeavors of institutions relevant to railways to protect the cultural heritage of railways were not sufficiently made. Only the internal guideline to protect the cultural heritage of railways made by the railway corporation is being implemented. This study aims to assert the need to examine the protective measures of the heritage of railroad cars and to vitalize plans of conserving the heritage of railroad cars. Also, plans to protect the heritage of railroad cars and methods to invigorate schemes of protecting the heritage of railroad cars will be suggested. The current situation of protecting the heritage of railroad cars was investigated via a field trip. Through exploring overseas examples of protecting the heritage of the railroad cars, ways to vitalize plans of widely publicizing the heritage of the railroad cars with their historical values were suggested. Results showed that first, the way of openly exhibiting conserved railroad cars by setting up stands other than the way of exhibiting and conserving in one site was necessary. Second, in order to properly preserve and manage the cultural heritage of railways, railroad cars, much like natural monuments or intangible cultural properties, need to be perceived as cultural properties. Also, it is necessary to amend the Cultural Properties Protection Law to include railway heritage. Third, the perception of the cultural heritage of railways should be heightened, and SNS, blogs, and cafes need to strategically promote this heritage in order to increase the public's interest. Fourth, in addition to enacting legislations and gaining institutional support for the cultural heritage of railways, the budget to operate the responsible department, and employing staff for the heritage of railroad cars should be resolved as a priority in order to enhance the capability of managing this cultural heritage. In order to rationally protect the cultural heritage of railways and invigorate plans to protect the cultural heritage of railways, it is necessary to garner administrative and financial support, and enact the appropriate legislation. The heritage of railroad cars is priceless and has a social value in terms of regional icons, historic marks, and the record of life. It is considered that in this situation, the standard of amending both policy and the Cultural Properties Protection Law for the heritage of railroad cars should be urgently established.