Archaeologizing “Korean Heritage”: Cultural Properties Management and State Tourist Development

• Published in: Handbook of East and Southeast Asian Archaeology pp. 27 - 37
• Main Author: Pai, Hyung Il
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer 2017; Springer New York
• Subjects: ARCHAEOLOGY; Buried cultural properties; Cultural resource management; National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage; National Treasures classification system; Republic of Korea Cultural Heritage Administration; Tourist development
• ISBN: 1493965190; 9781493965199
• DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6521-2_3

This paper traces the political, economic, and historical backgrounds of the establishment of national cultural institutions that have steered the direction of archaeological investigation, research, and restoration of sites in the Republic of Korea (ROK). It focuses on the activities of the of National Research Institute Cultural Heritage (NRICHNational Research Institute Cultural Heritage (NRICH), 1969–present), the centralized bureaucracy in charge of planning, budgeting, and developing conservation methods and technology to authenticate, periodize, and classify art and architecture to be registered as ancient sites, museum treasures and representative natural/folk/artistic resources. With the emphasis on salvage archaeological/anthropological fieldwork to make way for massive state-sponsored construction of dams, factories, high-rise apartments, and expressways linking the major ports and cities since the 1970s, only six regions have been designated “culture zones,” where the highest concentration of royal tombs, fortresses, palaces, shrines, and temple complexes have been systematically excavated, preserved and reconstructed as “must-see destinations” and/or proud symbols vouching for the unbroken dynastic continuity and antiquity of Korean civilization. By dissecting the research goals, preservation agendas, and public mission of the NRICH, this paper demonstrates the critical role that state-appointed archaeologists, curators, and specialist committees have played in creating and executing cultural properties’ regulations, research agendas, and educational functions of sites for visitors, targeting both foreign and domestic tourists.