Becoming Like the World: Korean Articulations of Globalization in the Global Zones, 1987-Present

Becoming Like the World: Korean Articulations of Globalization in the Global Zones, 1987-present By Jieheerah Yun A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture in the Graduate Division Of the University Of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Nezar AlSayyad, Chair Professor Greig Crysler Professor You-tien Hsing Fall 2011 Abstract Becoming like the World: Korean Articulations of Globalization in the Global Zones, 1987-present by Jieheerah Yun Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture University of California, Berkeley Professor Nezar AlSayyad, Chair After democratization and the successful hosting of the 1988 Olympic Games, various South Korean political actors, including the government, have criticized the reckless urban redevelopment projects under past regimes. The public clamour about the need to address the failings of developmentalist regimes has triggered the emergence of a new urban discourse that emphasizes considering non-economic aspects of development, such as environmental justice and broader citizen participation. In particular, the government has embarked on remaking South Korean landscapes in a series of urban renaissance projects through a deployment of “culture,” or what I call the cultural city discourse. This dissertation examines the processes by which architectural aesthetics and spatial practices in Global Cultural Zones in Seoul rearticulate “Korean cultures” as well as those of “others.” Using the methods of urban history, critical theory, and geographical inquiry, this study examines how economic liberalization and the transnational movement of people have shaped changing urban discourses surrounding development projects. Each chapter analyzes a different urban redevelopment project in a Global Cultural Zone; these represent the city government’s efforts to promote an understanding of “Korean cultures” and the concept of a “multicultural society.” First, by examining the cases of remodeled hanoks in Bukchon, this study challenges the assumption that vernacular architecture represents the opposite of high architecture. Instead, it highlights the ambiguous status of the former. Then, I look at the construction of “Korean cultures” in Insadong, which takes the form of nostalgia-fueled resistance to change that can be detrimental to cultural diversity. At the same time, I examine how the government’s effort to build a “multicultural society” functions as a political ideology that aims to ease the tension arising from participating in the global economy. This study then turns to the construction of the Design Plaza and Park in Dongdaemun and questions the thesis that design-oriented spaces bring further economic growth, let alone producing “cultural space.” Lastly, the construction of “multicultural streets” in Itaewon is examined to show that the emergence of ethnic and cultural diversity in Itaewon is the result of coincidental historical events rather than consistent government policy. This research shows that the emphasis on Korean “traditional culture” is not a simple 1 reflection of a desire to re-enact past customs but a project with an objective of reconfirming the modernity of the present. By examining the interlocking relationship between the state and civil society, this study illustrates the dialectical processes of globalization. This dissertation suggests that diversification of the rationales behind urban projects—the simultaneous emphasis on “Korean tradition” and a “multicultural society”—serves as a tool for the continuation of a growth-centered economic framework. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ...…………………………………………………………………………iii List of Figures ……………….………………………………………………………………...iv Chapter I Introduction: The Production of Korean Global Space……………………...1 The Rise of the “Cultural City” Discourse Segyehwa, or the Spectre of the Global The Question of Urban Culture and Representations Tradition as a “Project”: Tradition, Modernity, and In-between Multicultural Society Research Sites and Organization of Dissertation Chapter II Re-discovered Traditions: Remodeled Hanoks in Bukchon…………………19 The Hanok Boom as a Rediscovery of Korean Cultural Traditions Imagining Korean Life in a Hanok: the Blurring Line Between Vernacular and Modern Hanok Village as a Commodity in the Global Heritage Market Conclusion: The Future of the Hanoks in the Era of Globalization Chapter III From Mary’s Alley to a Global Cultural Zone: …………………………….44 Contested Traditions in Insadong Insadong as a “Culture Street” and “Car Free Zone” Transformation of Insadong Saving Small Stores Campaign and Insadong’s Ssamzigil The Narrative of Loss: What was lost? Construction of Traditions in Insadong: Tea houses and Korean Cuisine as Rediscoveries Conclusion Chapter IV Rediscoveries and Redesigns: ……………………………………………….69 Dongdaemun History and Culture Park A History of Dongdaemun Market “Selling Feelings?”: Rhetoric of the Design Seoul Project The Hidden Cost of the Dongdaemun Myth and Design Capital Conclusion Chapter V A “Foreign Country in Seoul”: Itaewon’s Multicultural Streets………….93 A Recent History of Itaewon Emergence of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Itaewon Han-nam New Town Plan and “Cultural Streets” in Itaewon Han-nam New Town and Gentrification Conclusion i Chapter VI Conclusion: Going Beyond the Cultural City …………..…………………..112 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………...116 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many teachers, friends, colleagues contributed to the production of this dissertation. First, I owe my deepest gratitude to my academic advisor, Professor Nezar AlSayyad, whose encouragement, guidance, and support from the initial to the final level enabled me to develop an understanding of the subject. I also owe much of my academic success to Professor Greig Crysler for his meticulous analysis of architectural discourse and generous support throughout my years at Berkeley. Professor You-tien Hsing also deserves my deepest gratitude for her judicious advice and insightful counsel. This dissertation is a result of several years of research and collaborations with various people in United States and South Korea. I would like to thank Hobyung Kim, the librarian at Korean National Assembly Library, who helped me tremendously with finding archival data. I also want to thank people of South Korea, including members of FF Group, who did not hesitate to communicate their opinions and experiences with me. Many thanks to my colleagues at Berkeley: Yishi Liu, Cecilia Chu, Gabriel Arboleda, Tiago Castella, Clare Robinson, Susanne Cowan, Eunah Cha, Shih-Yang Kao, Seung-Youn Oh, Aileen Cruz, Orna Shaughnessy, Youjeong Oh, Jennifer Choo for their generous help and intellectual companionship. Thanks to Vitalee Giammalvo for editing part of the dissertation and making valuable suggestions. In particular, I would like to thank William Heidbreder for considerable effort and great skill he applied to editing the manuscript. This research could not have been possible without the financial support of many institutions. The writing of this dissertation was supported by the Chancellor’s Fellowship for Dissertation Research, U.C. Berkeley, and Haas Junior Scholars Program Grant at the Institute of East Asian Studies. I am grateful for the continuous support of the Ph.D. Committee of the Department of Architecture at Berkeley. Last but not least, my deepest appreciation goes to my mother, who patiently mailed me all the books and articles I needed. I also would like to thank my father and my brother for continuous support. I am deeply indebted to my husband, Kwanpyo, who has constantly provided emotional support and encouragement. iii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Global Zones of Seoul…………………………………………………………… 3 Figure 2.1 The Old Map of Seoul Showing Bukchon …...……..………………………..… 20 Figure 2.2 The 1970 Advertisement of Apartment Houses in Yŏ-ŭido...…........................... 23 Figure 2.3 A Remodeled Hanok in Bukchon………………………………………………. 30 Figure 2.4 A Remodeled Hanok at Gyedong 135-1 of Bukchon…………………………... 33 Figure 2.5 Remodeled Urban Hanoks……………………………………………………… 38 Figure 2.6 Repair Guidelines……………………………………………………………….. 40 Figure 2.7 Contemporary Hanoks in Bukchon…………………………………………….. 41 Figure 3.1 Susŏnjŏndo and Aerial Map…………………………………………………….. 45 Figure 3.2 The Conceptual Map of a Sample Culture Street………………………………..48 Figure 3.3 The Street Pattern of Insadong…………………………………………………..50 Figure 3.4 A Photo of the Stone Carving………………………..………………………......52 Figure 3.5 The Poster Advertisement for the Joseon Theater…..…………………………...53 Figure 3.6 Historical Photos of Insadong…………………………………………………. .54 Figure 3.7 A Photo of the Main Street in Insadong in 1988……………………………….. 55 Figure 3.8 The Redevelopment Plan of 2004……………………………………………….57 Figure 3.9 Samsung’s Jongro Tower………………………………………………………..58 Figure 3.10 Insadong’s Ssamzigil…………………………………………………………….59 Figure 3.11 A Hello Kitty Doll Wearing a Korean Costume………………………………... 61 Figure 3.12 A Tea House…………………………………………………………………......64 Figure 3.13 Streets of Insadong………………………………………………………………65 Figure 4.1 An Aerial Map of Dongdaemun Market…………………………………………70 Figure 4.2 The Historical Photo of the Dongdaemun Market……………………………….72 Figure 4.3 The Pyunghwa Market in the 1960s…………………………………………......73 Figure 4.4 The Model of Dongdaemun General Market in the 1970………………………..74 Figure 4.5 Doota Fashion Mall………………………………………………………………76 Figure 4.6 The 2004 Urban Development Plan of Dongdaemun Market…………………...78 Figure 4.7 Shops in Little

Load more