WestminsterResearch http://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/westminsterresearch A cross-cultural study of architectural production in Korea and the West: cultural transfer within South Korean architecture and urbanism, 1990-2010. Junha Jang Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment This is an electronic version of a PhD thesis awarded by the University of Westminster. © The Author, 2013. This is an exact reproduction of the paper copy held by the University of Westminster library. The WestminsterResearch online digital archive at the University of Westminster aims to make the research output of the University available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the authors and/or copyright owners. Users are permitted to download and/or print one copy for non-commercial private study or research. Further distribution and any use of material from within this archive for profit-making enterprises or for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. Whilst further distribution of specific materials from within this archive is forbidden, you may freely distribute the URL of WestminsterResearch: (http://westminsterresearch.wmin.ac.uk/). In case of abuse or copyright appearing without permission e-mail [email protected] A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY OF ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTION IN KOREA AND THE WEST: Cultural transfer within South Korean architecture and urbanism, 1990-2010 J. JANG PhD 2013 A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY OF ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTION IN KOREA AND THE WEST: Cultural transfer within South Korean architecture and urbanism, 1990-2010 JUNHA JANG A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University of Westminster for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2013 Abstract This thesis examines the issue of cultural transfer within the context of modern Korean architecture and urbanism from 1990 to 2010 in light of globalising forces. My research is based on the proposition that the emergence of any new architecture in South Korea cannot be simply categorized according to the terms familiar in predominant western architectural theories and practices. To demonstrate this point, it investigates a range of contemporary Korean cultural conditions: hyper-digitisation of everyday life, prevalence of crowd-sourced popular culture, and a ‘bang’ entertainment room phenomenon for the collective enjoyment of leisure in dense urban sites. As a result, the thesis challenges the usual notion of a balanced exchange between the ‘foreign’ and the ‘local’ within the processes of globalisation, thereby disputing the idea of an easy mutual influence between different cultures. Instead, my study aims to build a critical method which can respond to complex issues of the transfer of cultural aspects, in regard not only to socio- political conditions but also to those of linguistic and cultural diversity. I also present through some outline design explorations a new framework through which to think about architectural and urban design in South Korea, and thus for understanding its appropriation within a broader, globalising cultural context. 1 A key argument in my research is that just as increasing levels of economic, business, cultural and communication exchanges are now being developed between the two parts of Korea, so too large-scale architectural projects are required to create continuous urban projects predicated on innovative ‘themed’ socio-economic environments. This PhD study hence proposes a new mode of architectural and urban production that carries significance both as an experimental approach in general, and also one that can serve to guide future developments following the (hopeful) future reunification between North and South Korea. 2 List of contents Introduction Chapter 1: Digital South Korea 1.1 Digital South Korea 1.1.1 Highest Speed 1.1.2 World Leader 1.1.3 Cyworld 1.1.4 Naver 1.1.5 Ohmy News 1.2 E-Government 1.2.1 Digital Society 1.2.2 Ubiquitous Services 1.2.3 Education 1.2.4 Demanding Customers 1.3 Internet Piracy 1.3.1 Global Problems with Internet Piracy 1.3.2 Crackdown on Internet Pirates in South Korea 1.3.3 Changing Tactics 1.4 Cyber War between North Korea and South Korea 1.4.1 The Ongoing Cyber War between North Korea and South Korea 1.4.2 The Cyber War Capabilities of North Korea 3 Chapter 2: The South Korean Music Industry 2.1 The South Korean Music Industry 2.1.1 Analysis of the Music Industry Structure 2.1.2 Range of the South Korean Music Industry 2.2 The Digital Music Industry in South Korea 2.2.1 Digital Music Innovation in South Korea 2.2.2 The Impact of the Internet on the Digital Music Industry 2.2.3 New Innovation for Digital Music 2.2.4 Korean Mobile Phone Music Industry 2.2.5 The Phenomenon of User-generated Content 2.2.6 Melon Music 2.3 Korean Wave 2.3.1 The Beginning of Hallyu 2.3.2 The Internet Connects the Wave Fast 2.3.3 Neo-Korean Wave 2.3.4 Future of Korean Wave 2.3.5 The Impact Korean Wave on Urban Project Chapter 3: ‘Bang’ Culture 3.1 Vertical Extrusion and Layering 3.2 Another Living Room – Jjimjilbang 3.3 Noraebang 3.4 Digital Space – Pcbang 4 Chapter 4: Landscape Urbanism 4.1 The Introduction of 'Landscape Urbanism' 4.2 The Acceptance of 'Landscape Urbanism' and Its Misinterpretations 4.3 Restoring the Landscapes of Infrastructure: The Restoration of Chonggyechon, Seoul 4.3.1 The Restoration Project of Cheonggyecheon 4.3.2 History 4.3.3 Crisis of Modernism 4.3.4 Cheonggyecheon Restoration – Necessity in Value 4.3.5 Strategy of the Restoration 4.3.6 Influence of the Restoration 4.4 The Projects of ‘Landscape Urbanism’ in South Korea 4.4.1 Project Highlighting an Infrastructure-based Approach 4.4.2 Projects Highlighting a Culturally-based Approach 4.4.3 Projects Highlighting an Arts-based Approach 4.4.4 Projects Highlighting an Environmentally-friendly Approach Chapter 5: Theme Cities 5.1 Theme Cities 5.2 Heyri Art Village (1997 – Present) 5.2.1 Culture Production and Process 5.2.2 Ecological Motive 5.2.3 Architectural Productions 5.2.4 Another Issue 5 5.3 Paju Book City (1989 – Present) 5.3.1 Urban Design 5.3.2 Architectural Design Guidelines for Paju Book City 5.3.3 Forms of Architectural Types in Paju Book City 5.4 Digital Media City (1992 through to 2014) 5.4.1 Size 5.4.2 Location 5.4.3 Elements 5.4.4 Urban Design 5.4.5 Digital Media Street Chapter 6: Urban Proposal 6.1 The Korean Demilitarized Zone 6.2 Kaesong Industrial Complex 6.3 Site Research – Analysis of the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) 6.4 Ecosystem vs. Mine dangers 6.5 A New Themed Music City Conclusion Bibliography 6 List of tables, illustrations, etc Figure 1.1: South Korean users shop by scanning QR codes on their Smartphone in a subway station. Figure 1.2: Cost of high-speed internet in selected advanced countries. Figure 1.3: International market share of Korea’s Key IT Products (as of 2009). Figure 1.4: Households with broadband access of major OECD members. Figure 1.5: Cyworld miniroom homepage. Figure 1.6: Human Capital Rank (EIU 2009 International IT Industry Report). Figure 1.7: South Korean owners of small business in Dongdaemun market are showing illegal DVDs which they caught them around their market. Figure 1.8: Overall Cyber War Strength. Figure 2.1: iRiver vs iPod.MP3 Market in US and Korea. Figure 2.2: Music industry paradigm shift, structure, main issues. Figure 2.3: Digital Korea. Source: itu 2006-2007. Figure 2.4: The Korean Wave as seen through YouTube hits for Korean music videos. Figure 3.1: Diagrams of ‘bang’ culture in South Korea. Figure 3.2: Vertical buildings represent various ‘bang’ culture. Figure 3.3: Club day in Hongdae area in Seoul. Figure 3.4: Various jjimjilbang spaces. Figure 3.5: Jjimjilbang spaces. 2nd floor plan. Figure 3.6: Jjimjilbang spaces. Basement floor plan. Figure 3.7: The noraebang rooms feature a ‘continuance of ceaseless singing’. 7 Figure 3.8: The noraebang rooms feature vivid interiors. Figure 3.9: Noraebang rooms floor plan. Figure 3.10: Noraebang rooms 1st floor plan. Figure 3.11: Pcbang interiors. Figure 3.12: Pcbang plan. Figure 4.1: The restoration project of Chonggyechon. Figure 4.2: Development of Cheonggyecheon stream. Figure 4.3: Before restoration of Cheonggyecheon stream. Figure 4.4: After restoration of Cheonggyecheon stream. Figure 4.5: Urban fabric – North downtown and South downtown. Figure 4.6: The conceptual site plan and sectional plan. Figure 4.7: This urban stream flows from west to east converging in the centre of Seoul. Figure 4.8: The scale of Saemangeum Island city compared to London map. Figure 4.9: The scale of Saemangeum Island city. Figure 4.10: Architect – MVRDV – The Flex Park. Figure 4.11: Architect – Choi Moon-gyu. Figure 4.12: Architect – Foreign Office Architects. Figure 4.13: Dongdaemun Design Plaza design (2007). Figure 4.14: Dongdaemun Design Plaza completion (2014). Figure 4.15: Dongdaemun Design Plaza level 1st floor plan. Figure 4.16: Dongdaemun Design Plaza East elevation. Figure 4.17: Dongdaemun Design Plaza section A-A’. Figure 4.18: Dongdaemun Design Plaza section C-C’. 8 Figure 4.19: Asian Culture Complex perspective view. Figure 4.20: Asian Culture Complex plan. Figure 4.21: View from the foot of hill. Figure 4.22: Inserting the site museum into an archaeological site of Palaeolithic era in Korea. Figure 4.23: The Anyang Art City 21 in Anyang city by MVRDV. Figure 4.24: Seoul Performing Arts Centre. Figure 4.25: Multi-functional Administrative City. Nature, infrastructure, structure and urban form.