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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 4
Publication Date: April 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.84.10163.
Lee, H. (2021). Analysis of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum as a Wide-Area Ecomuseum. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal,
8(4). 685-697.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Analysis of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum as a Wide-Area
Ecomuseum
Hanju Lee
Graduate School of Global Cultural Contents
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 107 Imun-ro
Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, korea
Abstract
This study aims to examine the features of the creation and operation of
ecomuseums at wide-area and (metropolitan) local government levels and to
analyze their improvements and limitations based on an analysis of a case study on
the “Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum.” This study also reveals the necessity and direction
for ecomuseums led by metropolitan local governments. It attempts to find ways to
expand the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum and apply lessons from this ecomuseum to
other planned wide-area ecomuseums in South Korea. Overall, this study intends to
derive the sustainability of wide-area ecomuseums, and their utility and potential
as a means to revitalize the region. The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum is a meaningful
case study as it was created in a wide area called the Gyeonggi Bay and was led by a
metropolitan local government, along with the official claim as an ecomuseum; the
museum creation project also progressed in a phased approach. However, there are
issues such as organization problems of the ecomuseum and the absence of resident
participation, integrated programs, and an archive center. Therefore, this study
presents measures to overcome these obstacles: the establishment of a core
ecomuseum and an exhibition center, the development of joint programs, the
continuous security of funds and human resources, and measures to generate
economic benefits for residents. This study also suggests spatial/functional
expansion from being the “Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum” to the “Gyeonggi Province
Ecomuseum.”
Keywords: Ecomuseum, Wide-area unit, Lead of local governments, Gyeonggi Bay,
Regional revitalization
INTRODUCTION
Research Background and Objectives
The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum has attempted to set a wide area unit as its domain and has been
created and operated mainly by the local government. Through this approach, it attempted to
revitalize the region by cultivating regional identity, preserving regional culture, and utilizing
such regional characteristics.
Using the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum case analysis, this study aims to analyze composition
patterns, application types, advantages, limitations, and improvements of the ecomuseum at
wide-area and (metropolitan) local government levels. The aim is to derive sustainability of the
ecomuseum, and its utility and potential as a means to revitalize the region. In addition, this
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study seeks to explore the necessity and direction of the museum led by the metropolitan local
government by analyzing the concept and form of such an ecomuseum project led by the local
government, its strengths and weaknesses, relationships with the central government, and the
issues of resident participation and budget.
Research Methods and Research Scope
This study employed three research methods: 1) previous research analysis, 2) literature
reviews, and 3) field research/trip. The previous studies covered three main topics: 1) the
concept of an ecomuseum and its development process, 2) the utilization of the ecomuseum
concept in South Korea, and 3) ecomuseum cases in South Korea and other countries. These
studies were categorized and analyzed here.
The literature reviews included literature, papers, research reports, collection of data, and
brochures related to the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum and its website for analysis and references.
In addition, official documents related to the creation of ecomuseums in Gyeonggi province,
Ansan City, Hwaseong City, and Siheung City were investigated and analyzed through the
government websites by requesting information disclosure.
The field trips were focused on the areas in which the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum was created,
such as the Ansan, the Siheung, and the Hwaseong areas, the Gyeonggi Bay Salt Road, and
regional resources related to ecomuseums in each city area.
The spatial scope of this study covered the areas of ecomuseums in Ansan City, Hwaseong City,
and Siheung City that were built between 2016 and 2018, as well as a discovery road called the
Gyeonggi Bay Salt Road.
As for the content scope of this study, the background of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum project
was examined, as well as the development processes including main participants, purposes,
budget, and main development projects of the Ecomuseum project. This study also focused on
the analysis of the components of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum, main operational entities, and
operating programs in each city area.
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES OF THE GYEONGGI BAY ECOMUSEUM
Background
There are recent trends that the unique coastal culture and ecosystems in the Gyeonggi Bay are
rapidly disappearing, and local communities are also dismantling rapidly. To overcome these
problems, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government researched the entire historical, cultural,
natural, and human resources scattered in the Gyeonggi Bay. Based on the results, it attempted
to preserve resources that were likely to be lost and damaged, and artistically sublimating them
to succeed. Along with the achievement of creative local regeneration, the government made
efforts to provide residents with opportunities to enjoy culture by developing educational and
experience programs utilizing local cultural and natural resources, and incorporating these
resources with their unique themes into connected programs that are not in the form of dots
but rather as faces and lines. In addition, through the local cultural assets, the government
intended to provide local artists with opportunities to create public art and participate in the
art projects.
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Lee, H. (2021). Analysis of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum as a Wide-Area Ecomuseum. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 685-697.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.10163
Around the Gyeonggi Bay, there are plans to create ecomuseums within the Bay to revitalize
the local economy, and ultimately promote local natural ecosystems and culture by utilizing
these local assets and artists.
Purpose of Establishment of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum
The purpose of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum is to create “roofless museums” and “Gyeonggi
Bay Ecomuseum with life and peace.” Specifically, the aim is to preserve the culture, history,
and natural resources scattered in the Gyeonggi Bay and to realize cultural autonomy and
tourism resource by amalgamating the lives of residents and the entire region into an
ecomuseum through creative and artistic measures. In addition, development strategies of
creative regional regeneration, eco-tourism, dark tourism, participation, and circulation were
prepared to enable sustainable development through the identity restoration of the Gyeonggi
Bay and the local revitalization.[1] The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum presents three goals to
achieve these visions, core values, and sustainable development goals.[2]
The first goal is to create the Gyeonggi Bay as a “heritage that becomes a gift for the future.” The
intention is to establish a field-specific system of ecomuseum through a systematic construction
of the nature and ecological environments of the Gyeonggi Bay, the creation of a comprehensive
art and culture space using island resources, the creation of walking paths, the construction of
contents on and spaces for life and peace, and via public design projects for transmission
towers.
The second goal is to encourage “resident participation in daily growth.” It attempts to establish
the foundation for the public-private partnership by establishing a support base for artists of
the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum and local activists, expansion of resident participation, and
foundation and support of the governance of ecomuseum operators.
The third goal is to create ecomuseums for each city area, develop differentiated contents, and
open small-sized ecomuseums through “activities that enhance the value of life.”
Based on the abovementioned objectives and goals, the values that the Gyeonggi Bay
Ecomuseum wished to ultimately meet can be defined into the following four themes.
First, the museum attempted to establish the cultural identity of the Gyeonggi Province to
revitalize the region. Second, it aimed at creating the Gyeonggi Bay, which leads to the
regeneration of local culture. Third, it attempted to establish regional cultural policies at a
metropolitan local government level. Fourth, it tried to restore the Gyeonggi Bay using an
integrated perspective.
Ecomuseum Composition Method
The main participants of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum can be divided along three axes. The
first axis represents the main project actors: Gyeonggi Province, Hwaseong City, Siheung City,
and Ansan City. The second axis is the agency of the Ecomuseum project, such as the Gyeonggi
Cultural Foundation and the Gyeonggi Creation Center within the Foundation. The third axis is
the public-private governance organization.
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The Gyeonggi Provincial Government, a metropolitan local government, played a pivotal role in
establishing policies and planning provincial budget, and in building cooperation and support
between metropolitan and municipal local governments. The municipal local governments
were in charge of establishing strategies to create ecomuseums in each city, organizing their
budget, and cooperating with and supporting residents and private organizations.
Figure 1 Local governments participating in the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum project
The public-private governance organization related to Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum was created
as follows: in 2015, the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and the Gyeonggi Creation Center
organized a meeting of on-site planners such as local cultural planners, artists-in-residence, and
local activists in the region, and prepared measures to revitalize the culture and arts within the
Gyeonggi Bay.
The public-private governance organizations, led by residents, local experts, and local public
officials, organized Ecomuseum Research Groups in each city area after group organization and
forum operation. These later participated in the creation and establishment of ecomuseums.
The public-private governance of Ansan City includes “Seonyurak” and “Daebudo Ecomuseum
Research Group.” Seonyurak is a residents' council aiming to evaluating ecomuseums in Ansan
city and conducting resident-led ecomuseum projects that utilize the local history and culture.
Daebudo Ecomuseum Research Group in Daebu Island carried out ecomuseum projects with
the islanders.
The public-private governance in Siheung City include the Siheung Baraji Ecomuseum Research
Group. Its members consist of residents, local experts, and local public officials. The research
group is seeking ways to preserve and utilize the local culture by discovering the natural,
historical, and cultural resources in Siheung, while playing a role as an organization to propose
regional policies.
The public-private governance in Hwaseong City is composed of the Ecomuseum Research
Group called “Gongsenghae.” It serves the role of promoting Hwaseong City's residents
participation in ecomuseum projects by holding regular meetings with residents.
The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum creation project is a long-term project, with a pilot project being
executed between 2016 and 2018. It continues to expand the period and targets. The budget
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Lee, H. (2021). Analysis of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum as a Wide-Area Ecomuseum. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 685-697.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.10163
security required for such long-term projects, that is, a smooth procurement of project funding,
is essential for the successful creation and operation of ecomuseums.
The costs for the creation and operation of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum were planned and
secured differently compared to the methods for existing government-led projects. First, there
was no national budget spent on the project. The entire budget for the project was planned and
executed by provincial and municipal budgets from the Gyeonggi Province, Ansan City, Siheung
City, and Hwaseong City. Many types of government-led projects have typically involved central
government support for local governments, or where local organizations and institutions
receive government funding through public offering projects. However, the project budget for
the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum was entirely secured and executed from the provincial and
municipal budgets, which is not a common pattern of securing project budgets.
In the case of provincial budgeting, the Gyeonggi Provincial budget was divided into the
provincial budget for common project expenses, and the purpose business expenses enabling
local governments to use the funding only for Ecomuseum-related projects. Such a method
prevented municipal local governments from diverting the budget to purposes other than the
ecomuseum-related projects.
In addition, regarding the peculiarity of budgeting, there was no top-down approach in which
the province sends the budget to municipalities to carry out projects; rather, the province and
municipalities created a joint business model in which they invested and executed their budget
and carried out projects at an equal position as joint business owners. Thus, this project shows
a different pattern from other government-led projects.
Table 1 Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum Project Expenses (pilot project between 2016 and 2018)
(Unit: KRW 1 million)[3]
Classification Total
2016 2017 2018
Sub- total Province City Sub- total Province City Sub- total City Province
Province
(Common) 1,005 290 290 - 335 335 - 380 380 -
Ansan City 935 300 300 - 250 145 105 385 280 105
Hwaseong
City 2,400 780 180 600 950 250 700 670 370 300
Siheung City 1,480 180 180 - 450 220 230 850 550 300
(Total) 5,820 1,550 950 600 1,985 950 1,035 2,285 1,580 705
Regarding the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum creation project, the first phase of foundation
furtherance and pilot project was implemented from October 2015 to 2018. It involved the
establishment of the master plan, which is the basic plan for the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum
project, joint projects of the three cities to construct the foundation for ecomuseums such as
research and selection of local resources in the Gyeonggi Bay, projects to create base spaces for
each city area, and creation of base centers that served as a core ecomuseum.
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Detailed projects included the enhanced research and development (R&D) of the Gyeonggi Bay
Ecomuseum, the expansion of projects and contents to revitalize base spaces in each city area,
the establishment and reinforcement of public-private partnership foundation, integrated
marketing, and local revitalization projects.
STRUCTURE OF THE GYEONGGI BAY ECOMUSEUM
The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum is largely found in three city areas: the Ansan, Hwaseong, and
Siheung areas. As shown in Figure 2, Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum has the following structure:
small-sized ecomuseums were created in each city area. Later, they were clustered into three
middle-sized groups in each city area. In short, this kind of coalition organization was applied
to create a large-scale ecomuseum in a wide area unit.
Figure 2 Structure of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum
Ecomuseums in the Ansan Area
Ecomuseums in the Ansan area can be found in three locations: “Myeon·Samuso,” which serves
as a base space and central center in the city area, and “Sungam History Museum” and “Art
Island Nue.”
“Myeon·Samuso” is a building that was used as the Daebu-myeon Office in the past. As a
Japanese colonial building, it has a unique pattern mixing Hanok (i.e., traditional Korean
housing) with Japanese architectural styles. It was created as a base space of Gyeonggi Bay
Ecomuseum in 2016.
The Myeon·Samuso Ecomuseum was created to conserve natural resources and to utilize
historical and cultural resources in Daebu Island. It is being operated as a community platform
space where residents are the main actors. It serves as a place for communication among
residents, such as community gatherings, exhibitions, experiences, and meeting spaces. It helps
residents to enhance the value of local communities and establish local identity by discovering
and learning the values of local resources, and networking with the outside world. Considering
these functions and roles, the Myeon·Samuso Ecomuseum can be regarded as the Core
Ecomuseum in the Ansan area and the central center in Daebudo Island.
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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.10163
The Sungam History Museum was created with the intent to face the painful past by making the
tragic historical site of Sungam Island, where the Sungam School was located, into an
ecomuseum.
Sungam School was a derelict detention center during the Japanese colonial period; young boys
were forcibly detained and mobilized for work in Japan or as conscript workers on the
battlefield. In the process, numerous young boys died of forced labor, abuse, torture and
hunger, or were taken to the battlefield to die. As the situation did not change even after the
Liberation from Japan, the school reopened in 1954 to accommodate the Korean War orphans.
Until the school was closed in 1982, the inmates had been exposed to forced labor, hunger,
repressive rules, and violence, and died [4].
The ecomuseum of the Sungam History Museum attempted to inform the truth of Sungam
School, the detention center that had existed in Sungam Island for 40 years and to share the
painful memories of the boys who were detained by force in anti-humanitarian conditions. To
prevent the repetition of the tragic history, the ecomuseum was created in the historical site,
while being utilized as an educational place.
The Ecomuseum of Art Island Nue is a cultural and artistic space consisting of cultural and
artistic programs such as public artworks, street art performances, and ecological experiences
by utilizing the island's natural environment. By preserving the natural environment of Nue
Island and combining culture and art with the ecological environment, this island has a unique
cultural experience space. Thus, the Ecomuseum project can be regarded as an eco-friendly and
artistic local revitalization project.
As described above, the three ecomuseums in the Ansan area have their distinctive features;
there are cases in which there are no satellite museums such as the Myeon·Samuso
Ecomuseum, or there are several ecomuseums that are considered as satellite museums such
as Sungam School or Art Island Nue.
Ecomuseums in the Hwaseong Area
The Ecomuseums in Hwaseong City can be found in three locations: Maehyangri Studio, Jebudo
Art park, and Gungpyeong O'SOL Art Pavilion.
Maehyangri Studio is a building used as the (old) chapel of Maehyang Church. Built in 1968, the
old and unused building was reborn as a culture and art space. It was selected as the first
ecomuseum of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum project in 2016.
Residents in Maehyang-ri, Hwaseong City suffered and were damaged by flight and gunfire
noises between 1951 and 2005 when Nong Island and Ut Island, off the coast of the village, were
used as shooting ranges for the U.S. Air Force.
Maehyangri Studio can be seen as a part of the process of overcoming the painful past of the
village and of being reborn as a space of peace. It utilizes the local heritage as a cultural resource
and contributes to creating a community where residents can play the main role by interpreting
the space of their lives through resident-led cultural activities and assigning historical
significance to the interpretation.
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Jebudo Art park can be regarded as a cultural and artistic platform representing the Hwaseong
area. It is located on the coastline of Jebu Island, with an observation facility where visitors can
enjoy the natural scenery such as the Yellow Sea and the coastline. This ecomuseum is a cultural
space where exhibitions and performances are held. It is composed of six containers and is
designed to view the coastline from various heights and angles.
Jebudo Art park is a performance and art space where young artists regularly exhibit and
perform. It provides residents with cultural experiences and serves as a space of
communication and cultural relaxation for visitors.
The Ecomuseum of Gungpyeong O’ SOL Art Pavilion was established in 2019 as a new
ecomuseum base in the Haesong Colony (i.e., the colony of pine trees) around Gungpyeong-ri,
Seosin-myeon. This is a place where the Haesong Colony and the sandy beaches on the west
coast of Korea are harmonized; it offers a breathtaking view of the sunset, the Yellow Sea, and
the Haesong Colony. Furthermore, the natural sand dunes on this coast are considered one of
the representative sand dunes in South Korea.
Gungpyeong O’ SOL Art Pavilion is the natural heritage retaining the natural scenery of the
coast, sandy beach, and the Haesong Colony; it serves as a space of relaxation and healing for
residents and visitors.
Ecomuseums in the Siheung Area
The ecomuseums in the Siheung area have the theme of ecological environment, consisting of
“Siheung Gaetgol Ecomuseum,” “Hojobeol Ecomuseum,” “Lotus Theme Park Ecomuseum,” and
“Gomsol Nuri Forest Ecomuseum.”
The Siheung Gaetgol Ecomuseum is located in Gaetgol Eco-park in Janggok-dong. It was created
as a space for exhibitions, performances, and archives using a salt warehouse of the old salt
farm in Gaetgol Eco-park. Gaetgol Eco-Art Class programs are also conducted.
This ecomuseum retains past memories and preserves local history and ecosystems through
the restoration of the salt warehouse, along with active resident participation. It also plays a
pivotal role as a base space for the Siheung Ecomuseum.
Hojobeol Ecomuseum was created as a playground and experience and exhibition space by
using natural materials from the autumn field after farming for a year. “Hojobeol” is reclaimed
land that was created approximately 300 years ago and is a large area of agricultural land.
Hojobeol is usually used as an agricultural land. However, it is converted to an ecomuseum in
the autumn; this shows the thinking outside-the-box in which the land can be used as an
ecological learning center and exhibition hall.
Lotus Theme Park Ecomuseum is a place for citizens to relax and enjoy lotus flowers. Walking
and bicycle paths near rice fields around Guangokji and Moolwang Reservoir in the vicinity, and
lotus cultivation areas have been constructed to promote the history and symbolism of
Guangokji. In addition, there is an ecological experience space for children by utilizing unused
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spaces in the park. Here, cultural and artistic experience programs with local artists are
organized.
Guangokji is designated as Siheung City Local Relic No. 8; it is a pond with a history of 550 years
in which Kang Hee Maeng, a scholar and bureaucrat in the early Joseon period, brought and
planted lotus seeds. Lotus Theme Park has 300 types of lotus species, water lilies, and aquatic
plants; it is a lotus flower-viewing spot and the first lotus culture park in South Korea with the
theme of lotus species [5].
Gomsol Nuri Forest Ecomuseum is a buffer green area located in Jeongwang-dong. Siheung
buffer greenery is an artificial green area cultivated to block air pollutants from the Shihwa
Industrial complex. It also serves as space for citizens to rest and heal, as well as a habitat for
wild animals and plants.
In 2018, the Siheung City Eco Forest Road project of Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum was
implemented in a buffer green area that separates the Shihwa Industrial complex from the
residential area. Thus, the ecomuseum was reborn through the installation of public artworks
and forest roads.
Discovery Road
The Discovery Road or trail is one of the important components in creating ecomuseums. The
road functions to connect ecomuseums, and satellite and core museums. This connects
ecomuseums through networking. That is, a wide range of ecomuseums are not individually
isolated due to the trail, and thus, are networked and can become an ecomuseum through
mutually organic activities.
The trail allows visitors to constantly face and experience the history and culture of the region,
the natural environment, and the lives of local residents on the journey. Through this process,
visitors can discover and recognize the resources of a specific region, that is, the corresponding
ecomuseum. Discovery Road is constructed as walking paths where one can usually move on
foot. Visitors can experience slow time and space, mental healing, and immersion in nature
through walking tours while having opportunities to recover health, look back on themselves,
and establish self-identity.
As a part of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum project, the Discovery Road called “Gyeonggi Bay Salt
Road” was created. The Gyeonggi Bay Salt Road, which was created along the coastline of the
Gyeonggi Province, consists of 14 stretches totaling approximately 153.7 km. It is a walking
path where visitors can see and experience the cultural heritage, natural environment, and
residents’ lifestyles of the Gyeonggi Bay. On the path, visitors can find approximately 30
ecomuseums named the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum.
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Figure 3 Gyeonggi Bay Salt Road
MANAGEMENT OF ECOMUSEUMS
Even if a cultural foundation or a culture and arts organization under local governments is in
charge of the ecomuseum management, resident participation is a crucial factor in the
management; the common interests and agenda of the local community must be fulfilled. The
museum should be operated to improve the restoration and sustainability of the community
through the convergence of all local resources in the regions, rather than focusing on the culture
or art itself.[6]
The management of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum is based on the “participation” of local
residents starting from the planning stage. Although the creation of the ecomuseum was
promoted by local governments, the resident participation took place from the creation stage,
and residents of each city also participated in various ways during the operation stage. In
particular, resident groups that are participating in both creation and operation include
“Seonyurak” (Ansan residents' council), “Daebudo Ecomuseum Research Group,”
“Gongsenghae” (Hwaseong's ecomuseum research group), “Siheung-si Council for Sustainable
Development” (a private-public cooperation organization in Siheung), and “Siheung Baraji
Ecomuseum Research Group” (an Ecomuseum research group in Siheung).
As discussed above, regarding the management of ecomuseums in each city area, the
Ecomuseum Research Groups and the public-private governance of each region play a role in
project proposals and planning of operating programs. In fact, ecomuseum programs are
managed by separate organizations or individuals in each area.
The operating Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum programs consist of integrated and city area
programs. The main integrated program is the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum tour program.
Residents participate in the program as an operational entity. Since 2016, operational entities
in each city area have set and operated tour courses every year.
The operating programs in each city area mainly consists of exhibition planning, experience,
and performance programs. In particular, there are theater performances and experience and
exhibition programs in operation. Residents actively participate in the development and
progress of the operating programs; thus, there have been efforts to lead the operation and
activation of ecomuseums through the voluntary and active participation of residents.
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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.10163
ANALYSIS RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS
Characteristics of Ecomuseums in an Area Unit
The distinctive feature of wide-area ecomuseums is that a municipal government in each city
area creates multiple independent ecomuseums within their territory, and that each
independent ecomuseum constitutes its own satellite museum. The agglomeration of such
ecomuseums in each city area constitutes wide-area ecomuseums; such a pattern features
ecomuseums with a wide area unit.
In addition, the metropolitan local government plans the overall design and creation of
ecomuseums, whereas municipal local governments mainly develop and operate programs.
Each ecomuseum conducts its activities with its own identity within its territory. However, it
performs joint projects or common programs along with other ecomuseums within a wide area.
The spatial boundary of wide-area ecomuseums is different from that of existing ecomuseums
in South Korea, which are usually in a village or small city unit. Furthermore, wide-area
museums have characteristics different from small-scale ecomuseums in terms of scale,
structure, form of establishment, composition, and operational entities.
Here, the characteristics of wide-area ecomuseums are divided into five categories. First, it is
easy to expand the scale of these ecomuseums through phased projects. Furthermore, one can
expand them to other neighboring cities and provinces. This is a model that can create new
regional concepts and new local value systems.
Second, the hardware development, such as the establishment and creation of ecomuseums, is
led by metropolitan local governments. The software-related activities, such as the
development of operating programs and operating personnel, are led by municipal local
governments, public-private governance, and residents. Therefore, a dualized system is
realized in this way.
Third, professional and continuous education is possible through the education center of the
core wide-area ecomuseums. Compared to ecomuseums in city areas, core wide-area
ecomuseums have more advantages in securing education budgets, mobilizing education- related professionals, and operating integrated programs.
Fourth, securing professional personnel is easier. Due to the characteristics of metropolitan
areas, it is easy to secure personnel of public municipal and provincial institutions, various
experts, regional related organizations, public officials, private organizations, and public- private governance within the wide area. It is also possible to efficiently deploy and utilize these
professionals.
Finally, there are various routes for securing the budget for ecomuseum projects. It is possible
to secure and invest the metropolitan local government’s large-scale budget from the total
budget. In addition, one can secure budgets from diverse sources such as government and
municipal funding, military expenditures, and so on, as well as investments.
Significance of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum
The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum officially declared itself as an ecomuseum in 2016. Ecomuseums
have been introduced in South Korea as a way to create a village or regenerate a region using
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the concept and definition of an ecomuseum. Yet, the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum officially
declared itself as an ecomuseum.[7]
It is a wide-area ecomuseum that selects, preserves, and utilizes all tangible and intangible
cultural and natural heritages, community activities, local human resources, and the coast
within a wide spatial range as the Gyeonggi Bay's heritage.[8]
In addition, this ecomuseum was created using a phased approach on a large scale within a wide
area. However, it did not pursue short-term achievements or large-scale construction projects.
Rather, its relevant projects were conducted while utilizing the existing resources.
The creation projects of ecomuseums have been implemented while reviewing the
development of new large-scale resources, investment of large-scale project budget, and
construction of landmark sculptures in the mid-to-long term. The projects were executed by
year and by stages, which are the basic principles of the projects.
Limitations of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum
The creation of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum is highly significant in South Korea. However, it
has limitations in several parts due to the concept of a wide area and compositional problems.
First, an ecomuseum has its compositional problems. Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum was created in
base spaces (i.e., independent ecomuseums) within the area consisting of three cities, but there
are no other satellite museums. In addition, given that there are places where core and satellite
museums overlap without distinction or are considered as a single site, ecomuseums are
composed without a distinction of their roles and identities. In addition, there are no “City Area
Core Ecomuseum” representing the city area, and “Gyeonggi Bay Core Ecomuseum”
representing the entire Gyeonggi Bay.
Second, there is a resident participation problem. The Siheung Area shows active resident
participation through public-private councils and Ecomuseum Research Groups, whereas the
Ansan Area indicates insufficient activities despite the existence of its local Ecomuseum
Research Groups. In the Hwaseong Area, the activities of the local Ecomuseum Research Groups
are insignificant; thus, its ecomuseum is mainly operated by the Hwaseong City government.
Third, there are no integrated, joint, and linkage programs for the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum or
ecomuseums in each city. As existing operating programs are being conducted in each base
space within each city area, they do not reflect the characteristics of city area ecomuseums or
the identity of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum.
Fourth, there is a lack of projects related to the economic interests for residents in the
ecomuseum creation stage or operating programs. Local revitalization, one of the fundamental
purposes of ecomuseums, can be better achieved by engaging residents.
Finally, there is a lack of Gyeonggi Bay history programs and the absence of an archive center.
CONCLUSION
The Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum has several features as a wide-area ecomuseum, along with an
important significance in creating ecomuseums in South Korea. However, there are evident
limitations as well. Based on the results of analyzing this ecomuseum as a case study, this study
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Lee, H. (2021). Analysis of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum as a Wide-Area Ecomuseum. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 685-697.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.10163
proposes the following directions and implementation plans as a way to overcome the
limitations of the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum and become a sustainable ecomuseum.
First, it is essential to expand and reorganize by establishing core ecomuseums in each city and
the Gyeonggi Bay, a central center that can serve as an education center, and a new ecomuseum
for each city. Second, the development and operation of joint or linked programs is needed.
Third, there should be measures for securing human resources by training residents and
cultivating them as cultural mediators, that is, experts in local culture.[9] Fourth, to ensure the
sustainability of ecomuseums, plans should be made to continuously secure national,
provincial, and municipal budgets. Fifth, ecomuseum activities should be linked or matched
with residents' profits and economic interests.[10] Finally, it is necessary to expand and
develop from being a “Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum” to a “Gyeonggi Ecomuseum.”
Through the abovementioned implementation measures, the Gyeonggi Bay Ecomuseum should
be able to revitalize the region as a sustainable ecomuseum. Furthermore, its creation and
operation approach should contribute to the creation of ecomuseums of other metropolitan
local governments and become the benchmark.
References
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[5].Siheung City. https://www.siheung.go.kr/. Accessed date: August 1, 2020.
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