• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.102-111
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• 2022

Termites are a group of social insects that are one of the primary causes of damage to wooden architectural heritage. Since termite damage impairs the authenticity and structural stability of cultural heritage, it is imperative to prevent it. This study examines the extent of termite damage to wooden architectural heritage as part of efforts to prevent termite damage to nationally designated wooden architectural heritage sites across the country. The extent of termite damage to each cultural heritage was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and comparatively analyzed by region using the results of the "Investigation on Biological Damage to Wooden Architectural Heritages" conducted by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage from 2016 to 2019. It involved 362 nationally designated wooden architectural heritages(25 national treasures, 157 treasures, 180 national folklore cultural heritages) and 1,104 buildings. The results were as follows: termite detection dogs reacted at 317(87.6%) of the 362 wooden heritages, with visible termite damage observed in 185 cases(51.1%). Furthermore, termite damage was confirmed using one of two methods(detection dogs or visual inspection) in 324 cases(89.5%). Of the 1,104 buildings, termite detection dogs reacted at 668(60.5%), while 339(30.7%) showed visible termite damage. Employing one of the two methods, damage was confirmed in 702 buildings(63.6%). The country was categorized into nine regions(Seoul Metropolitan Area, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju) to examine the termite damage rate and the degree of damage to each cultural heritage according to location. Termite detection dogs reacted to more than 70% of the cultural heritage in all regions. Visible damage was minimal in the Seoul metropolitan area(32.1%) and Gangwon(21.4%) but severe in Chungnam(65.6%), Jeonnam(67.3%), and Gyeongnam(68.2%). By quantifying the degree of termite damage of each cultural heritage as a ratio of the absence of termite damage among the total absence, the average termite damage of the cultural heritage across the country was 9.2%. Regional variance analysis showed that the cultural heritage in Jeonbuk and Jeonnam showed a statistically significantly higher degree of termite damage than the cultural heritage in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk. This paper comprehensively analyzed termite damage to nationally designated wooden architectural heritage. The findings are expected to be valuable in establishing policies for the preservation and management of cultural heritage sites in the future.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 2019

Biological damages of wooden cultural properties are closely related to the preservation of the environment; these damages can be accelerated because of rapid climate change. Therefore, to preserve cultural properties, it is important to understand environmental characteristics. This study aims to investigate the status of termite damage and the characteristics of major environmental factors such as micro-meteorology, meso-meteorology, and local-meteorology of the Josadang shrine in the Seonamsa temple at Suncheon. Damage was confirmed by visual observation and the response of the termite detection dog at the north-west corner. Also another damage was observed by the termite detection dog at the north-east corner. These pillars had lower surface temperature and higher moisture content compared with the pillars in the front. The mean temperature of the entire time was similar for the meteorologies; however, the relative humidity differed. High relative humidity, greater than 70%, was observed frequently. In particular, it was determined that the termite activity days were the most inside the Josadang shrine. The statistical analysis confirmed that there was a difference between the meteorology events through the F ratio. In addition, the difference of environmental factors with relative humidity and temperature was identified more great difference in relative humidity through the t-statistics of temperature and relative humidity. And then relative humidity was confirmed most great in the difference of meso-meteorology and local-meteorology.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.641-651
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• 2019

This study investigates three buildings arranged alongside at the same level, namely, the Josadang, the Buljojeon, and the Palsangjeon. Their backside is blocked by an embankment with an environmental condition unsuitable for wooden buildings. The pillar behind the Josadang had termite damage for which termite damage and environmental investigations had been conducted for the past four years. The termite damage was monitored four times using the termite detection dogs, and the environmental factors were surveyed 27 times, except during the winter season. As a result, the locations of the columns with a high frequency of responses from the termite detection dogs were found and damage was confirmed. According to the surface moisture content investigations, the surface moisture content was highest in the Josadang and lowest in the Buljojeon. After a statistical analysis, the mean, the median, and the mode values were compared. The difference between the mean and the median was found to be less, however, the mode varied significantly. The mode values of the Josadang and the Palsangjeon were 14.5% and 10.8%, respectively, higher than the 6.1% mode value of the Buljojeon. It was concluded that the temperature and the water content affected the termite damage, which increases if the temperature and the water content remain constant owing to the environmental factors.