[KS] Korean Studies in Copenhagen

Andy Jackson gp200 at yahoo.com
Wed Mar 9 05:25:38 EST 2016


Dear list members, please note the following seminar at the University of Copenhagen.  Free entry, everyone is welcome. Best Andrew
‘HeritagePractices during the Park Chung Hee Era: An enduring legacy’

Dr. Codruţa Sîntionean

Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

 Date: Friday 11. March

Time:  17.00-19.00

Building: KUA2 - 15A.1.11 (70pladser) Karen Blixens vej 4, bygn. 15, University of Copenhagen, Amager Campus, nearest metro: Islands Brygge,  Bio

CodruţaSîntionean is Assistant Professor at the Department of Asian Languagesand Literaturesat Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She has been in charge ofthe section of Korean Language and Literature since its creation in 2008. Afterstudying in Japan and South Korea she received her PhD from the Faculty ofLetters at Babeş-Bolyai University in 2008. Her academic interests includeKorean heritage and Korean history.            

Abstract

In the 1960s-1970s, military dictator Park Chung Hee’spostcolonial government created a very enduring trope about correcting thehistorical views of the past and establishing a “correct view of the nation”(Park 1974: 166). The president had his own personal understanding of what“independent”, “correct” history (Ibid.) was, and especially of how it could beused in order to persuade citizens to willingly, indiscriminately engage in themodernization projects of the state. Nationalheritage was instrumental in disseminating this constructed view of the past, thereforethe state-led Office of Cultural Properties started to identify and completelyrecreate historic sites so that they supported and illustrated the newhistorical discourse. The government further employed history and heritage toprovide models to be emulated by the citizens, emphasizing values such asdedication to one’s country, self-sacrifice, patriotism, loyalty, hard work andfrugality.

                      Thelecture presents a series of eye-opening examples of heritage practices thatwere common under the Park rule. Ideology prevailed over concerns forauthenticity, which led to astonishing practices such as displacement,alteration, demolition, partial or complete reconstruction of centuries-oldhistoric architecture, simply in order to illustrate the historic and ideologicalnarrative disseminated by the government. In order to fully grasp the extent ofstate intervention in the remaking of national heritage, the audience will takea look at stunning photographs from the 1960s and 1970s, selected from thearchives of the Office of Cultural Properties. 

                      Thelong-lasting effects of these practices can be seen in the way Korean identity– “Koreanness” – is embodied in heritage even today. What makes a piece ofarchitecture distinctly Korean? How is authenticity defined today in SouthKorean heritage management? Understanding the Park period provides meaningfulanswers to these questions. The lecture also provides examples of contemporarypreservation practices in order to illustrate the enduring, but troublinglegacy of the Park era.     

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