This dissertation implements a digital curation methodology to present a means to improve the accessibility of heritage interpretation materials on Korean cultural heritage so that Korean cultural heritage can be better incorporated into global Korean...
This dissertation implements a digital curation methodology to present a means to improve the accessibility of heritage interpretation materials on Korean cultural heritage so that Korean cultural heritage can be better incorporated into global Korean Studies education.
In chapter 1, the author explains the background for the research, looks at the existing research on the topic, and presents the research methodology.
In chapter 2, the author surveys the current status of Korean cultural heritage, looking at the number and types Korean heritage in South Korea, North Korea, and overseas, as well as the various government regulations regarding Korean cultural heritage. Based on this, the author then explores why Korean cultural heritage is useful in the context of global Korean Studies education, i.e. education about Korean history and culture targeting non-Korean speaking audiences. In particular, the author argues that in addition to its value as a primary resource for humanities knowledge, Korean cultural heritage has a multifaceted and sensory nature that makes it particularly useful in a global educational context. However, despite this value, Korean cultural heritage has not been sufficiently incorporated into Korean Studies education due to geographic and cultural-linguistic barriers.
In chapter 3, the author argues that the aforementioned barriers can be overcome through the use of heritage interpretation materials, including not only text-based materials but also sensory (visual, auditory) materials. The author surveys numerous English-language materials by various institutions to gain an understanding of what heritage interpretation materials are currently available. Based on this survey, it was found that there already exists a significant number of such materials, however these materials were found to have poor accessibility in terms of both content and environment (user interface, etc.) when considered from the perspective of heritage interpretation ideals, making them difficult to be utilized in global Korean Studies education. Based on this, the author proposes tasks that need to be addressed in order to remedy this situation.
In chapter 4, in order to address the aforementioned tasks for improving the accessibility of heritage interpretation materials for use in global Korean Studies education, the author argues for the importance of the digital curation of interpretive materials on Korean cultural heritage. To this end, the author reviews various digital curation case studies related to cultural heritage and Korean history and culture, taking a closer look at the data models (ontologies) of a few of the more comprehensive case studies. With these case studies in mind, the author presents a new digital curation model, which builds upon the “encyclopedic archives” curation model proposed by Kim Hyeon and existing “linked open data” curation models used in the cultural heritage sphere. The model, entitled the Semantic Portal for Linked Materials, aims to bring together related yet digitally scattered heritage interpretation materials via a portal that shows the meaningful relationships between the materials through semantic linked data. The model proposes that there are four kinds of interpretive materials, namely heritage (primary resources), references (secondary resources), context (tertiary resources), and activities (quaternary resources), that can be arranged on the axes of reality-interpretation and manifestation-knowledge. These materials interact with one another in the context of the “heritage interpretation lifecycle,” defining, acting upon, and drawing upon one another.
In chapter 5, the author proposes a method for realizing this digital curation model through the design of an ontology for semantic data modelling and an online platform for data input, query, and display. The platform is based on the free, open-source software Semantic MediaWiki, and the ontology draws upon the data models reviewed in chapter 4, while also maximizing upon the features provided by the Semantic MediaWiki software. The proposed ontology, named the Heritage Interpretation Ontology, utilizes “subobjects,” a feature of Semantic MediaWiki, to allow for a simple yet customizable data schema. The platform also uses MediaWiki extension such as Page Forms to allow for the easy input, search, and display of semantic data.
In chapter 6, the author then explains how and by whom such a platform might be used and demonstrates how to utilize the platform for the purpose of Korean Studies education, looking from the perspective of interpretive material producers, consumers, and prosumers. The usage examples help to show how the digital curation model and the ontology/platform introduced in chapters 4 and 5 can help address the issue of Korean cultural heritage interpretive material accessibility, and in turn, help to improve the utilization of Korean cultural heritage in the Korean Studies educational environment.
In chapter 7, the author concludes by summarizing the research and commenting on the potential research effects.
Overall, this research contributes to the fields of Korean heritage, heritage interpretation, and global Korean Studies by not only providing an overview and review of the current scope and accessibility of relevant resources, but also by proposing a novel digital curation model that comprehensively addresses and overcomes the limitations of incorporating cultural heritage into a global and digital educational environment, and by creating a functional online platform that demonstrates how open-source software and semantic data can be utilized to enable the contextualized, transparent, organic, and mutually beneficial sharing and discovery of heritage interpretation materials.