'Difficult Heritage' in Nation Building: South Korea and Post-Conflict Japanese Colonial Occupation Architecture (Palgrave Studies in Cultural Heritage and Conflict)

This book explores South Korean responses to the architecture of the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea and the ways that architecture illustrates the relationship between difficult heritage and the formation of national identity. Detailing the specific case of Seoul, Hyun Kyung Lee investigates how buildings are selectively destroyed, preserved, or reconstructed in order to either establish or challenge the cultural identity of places as new political orders are developed. In addition, she illuminates the Korean traditional concept of __feng shui__ as a core indigenous framework for understanding the relationship between space and power, as it is associated with nation-building processes and heritagization. By providing a detailed study of a case little known outside of East Asia, __‘Difficult Heritage’ in Nation Building__ will expand the framework of Western-centered heritage research by introducing novel Asian perspectives. Acknowledgements 7 Contents 11 List of Figures 20 List of Tables 23 Abbreviations 19 Chapter 1 The Problematic Past and Difficult Heritage: The Japanese Colonial Occupation of Korea and Its Architectural Legacies 24 ‘The Problematic Past’: The Japanese Colonial Occupation of Korea 25 Locating the Field in the South Korean Context 28 The Scope of the Volume 33 Timeline 33 Place 33 Case Studies 36 Exploring the Theoretical Relationship Between Difficult Heritage and National Identity 41 The Relationship Between National Identity, Collective Memory, and Heritage 41 The Nation and National Identity 42 National Identity and Collective Memory: ‘Governing Myths of a Nation’ 44 National Identity, Collective Memory, and Heritage: Constructing Heritage 47 Painful and Traumatic Historic Events, Architecture, and Place 48 Understanding Difficult Heritage: What Is ‘Difficult’ About Japanese Colonial Occupation Architecture (JCOA)? 50 Post-colonial Stories: Limitations in the ‘Official’ History of the JCOA 53 The Structure of the Book 55 References 58 Chapter 2 Mapping the Memories of the Japanese Colonial Occupation of Korea (JCO) 67 The Formation of Hanyang During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897) 68 Founding the Capital City: Traditional Beliefs and Principles 69 Constructing the City Boundaries: The Walls and Four Gates 71 The Construction of Joseon’s Political Structure 75 The Construction of Korean National Symbols During the Daehan Empire (1897–1910) 77 The Construction of the JCO Empire During the JCO (1905–1945) 80 The Rise of Japanese Imperialism 81 JCO Policy in Korea 82 Japanese Interference with Korean Traditional Architecture 84 Constructing JCOA in Gyeongseong 88 Korea as a Protectorate of Japan (1905–1910) and Under Military Rule (1910–1919) 88 Cultural Rule (1919–1930) 92 The ‘Japan and Korea as One Entity’ Period (1930–1945) 101 The Reconstruction of the Republic of Korea in the Post-JCO Period (1945–Present) 106 References 120 Chapter 3 Seodaemun Prison: From Symbol of Fear and Violence to Symbol of Freedom and Victory 127 The Meaning of Seodaemun Prison’s Location Before the JCO (1392–1905) 132 The Memory Formation of Seodaemun Prison During the JCO (1905–1945) 135 Memory Development Around Seodaemun Prison in the Post-conflict Period (1945–1987) 139 Heritagisation of Seodaemun Prison (1987–Present): Memory Conflicts 143 First Conflict (1982–1987): To Destroy or Preserve Seodaemun Prison? 143 Second Conflict (1987–1992): Preserving the Seodaemun Prison Site as It Was, or Reconstructing a Historic Park and a Memorial Hall 146 Third Conflict (1995–1998): Which Memories Should Be Represented in Seodaemun Prison History Hall? 150 Fourth Conflict (2008–2010): How to Display the Chosen Memories in Seodaemun Prison History Hall 152 The New Meaning of Seodaemun Prison 157 Heritage-Scape: The Independence Gate Station, the Independence Park, and Seodaemun Prison History Hall 158 Commemorative Events: The Performance of the First March Independence Movement Anniversary and the Festival for Independence and Democracy 163 Seodaemun Prison: A Symbol of Freedom and Victory? 165 Conclusion: Towards a Shared Heritage as a Symbol of Peace and Freedom 166 References 172 Chapter 4 Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Japanese Government-General Building (JGGB): Power Struggles and the Contested Places of Korean National Identity 181 The Meaning of the JGGB’s Location Before the JCO (AD 1392–1905) 184 Memory Formation Around the JGGB During the JCO (1905–1945) 187 The JGGB Construction Process 187 The Rationale for the JGGB’s Location and Its Visual Effects on JCO Korea 190 Memory Development Concerning the JGGB During the Post-conflict Period (1945–1993) 195 Memory Conflict Over Destruction and Conservation (1990s) 199 Controversies Regarding the Destruction of the JGGB 201 Three Different Perspectives That Aroused Controversy (1993–1995) 202 Political Rhetoric Using Korean Tradition, feng shui, and Shamanism (1993–1995) 206 Feng shui Rhetoric in the 1990s 206 Shamanism and the Destruction of the JGGB (1995–1996) 208 The Reconstruction Process (1996–Present) 210 Creating the Exhibition Park 211 Reconstructing the Gyeongbokgung Palace Site and Its Surroundings 213 The New Meaning of the Gyeongbokgung Palace Site 215 Heritage-Scape: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sejong-ro Street, and Gwanghwamun Square 215 The Choreography of National Events and Popular Involvement in Gwanghwamun Square 218 2010: The 65th Anniversary of the Liberation 218 Inauguration Event of President Park Geun-hye in 2013 219 People’s Involvement in Gwanghwamun Square 220 Conclusion: Memory Manipulation for Official Narratives, and Memory Transmission for Future Generations 221 References 225 Chapter 5 Dongdaemun Stadium: Between Korean Tradition, Colonial Memory, and Dreams for the Future 232 The Meaning of the Location Before the JCO (1392–1905) 235 Memory Formation Around Dongdaemun Stadium During the JCO 238 The Roles and Uses of the Dongdaemun Stadium Site and Its Surroundings 238 Memory Formation at Gyeongseong Stadium Through Sports Politics and Modern Sports Activities 241 The Development of Memory Concerning Dongdaemun Stadium During the Post-liberation Period (1945–2008) 246 Heritagisation: Memory Conflicts (2006–2008) 250 Conflicts Concerning History 252 Conflicts Concerning Sport 253 Conflicts Concerning the Market as a Space to Live and Work 256 The DDP Project and Its Controversies After Conflict Resolution 258 The Current Meaning of Dongdaemun Stadium 260 Heritage-Scape: Dongdaemun Design Park and Plaza and Dongdaemun Market 260 The Dongdaemun History and Culture Park as a Memory Repository 263 Place Identity as JCOA 265 Conclusion: Recreating Dongdaemun Stadium and The Start of a New History 266 References 269 Chapter 6 South Korean Responses to Japanese Colonial Occupation Architecture (JCOA) 274 Detailed Analysis of Case Studies: Visual Representations and the Changing Meanings of JCOA Sites 275 Korean National Identity Formation: The ‘One Blood’ Myth and the ‘Significant Other’ 275 The Formation of ‘Memory Ring’ and Post-memory Conflicts 276 Seodaemun Prison 279 The Japanese Government-General Building (JGGB) 280 Dongdaemun Stadium 281 Influential Factors in JCOA as ‘Difficult Heritage’: Agents of the Memory Conflict 282 JCOA in the Formation of the Heritage-Scape 286 The Post-liberation Treatment of Korean Traditional Buildings 286 The Post-liberation Treatment of JCOA 291 Responses of South Korea to JCOA 300 The Four Categories 301 References 310 Chapter 7 Conclusion: The Role of Difficult Heritage in Nation Building in South Korea 313 Reflection on Difficult Heritage and National Identity Formation in South Korea 313 Five Challenges in the Formation of Difficult Heritage and National Identity 317 The Future Role of Difficult Heritage in the Korean and East Asian Context 319 References 322 Index 324 "This book explores South Korean responses to the architecture of the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea and the ways that architecture illustrates the relationship between difficult heritage and the formation of national identity. Detailing the specific case of Seoul, Hyun Kyung Lee investigates how buildings are selectively destroyed, preserved, or reconstructed in order to either establish or challenge the cultural identity of places as new political orders are developed. In addition, she illuminates the Korean traditional concept of feng shui as a core indigenous framework for understanding the relationship between space and power, as it is associated with nation-building processes and heritagization. By providing a detailed study of a case little known outside of East Asia, 'Difficult Heritage' in Nation Building will expand the framework of Western-centered heritage research by introducing novel Asian perspectives."-- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages i-xxvii The Problematic Past and Difficult Heritage: The Japanese Colonial Occupation of Korea and Its Architectural Legacies (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 1-43 Mapping the Memories of the Japanese Colonial Occupation of Korea (JCO) (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 45-104 Seodaemun Prison: From Symbol of Fear and Violence to Symbol of Freedom and Victory (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 105-158 Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Japanese Government-General Building (JGGB): Power Struggles and the Contested Places of Korean National Identity (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 159-209 Dongdaemun Stadium: Between Korean Tradition, Colonial Memory, and Dreams for the Future (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 211-252 South Korean Responses to Japanese Colonial Occupation Architecture (JCOA) (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 253-291 Conclusion: The Role of Difficult Heritage in Nation Building in South Korea (Hyun Kyung Lee)....Pages 293-303 Back Matter ....Pages 305-313