Seoul Metropolitan Government is creating "Seoul Parks" with the theme of Korean traditional gardens in seven capital cities of foreign countries, including Ankara, Cairo, Paris, Berlin, Tehran, Ulaanbaatar, and Tashkent, with the aim of promoting fri...
Seoul Metropolitan Government is creating "Seoul Parks" with the theme of Korean traditional gardens in seven capital cities of foreign countries, including Ankara, Cairo, Paris, Berlin, Tehran, Ulaanbaatar, and Tashkent, with the aim of promoting friendly cooperation. This study aims to examine the process of creating the most recently established "Tashkent Seoul Park" among the various Seoul Parks created overseas in order to understand the various conditions that arise when creating Korean traditional gardens abroad.
The subject of the study is Tashkent Seoul Park, and the time range is from 2009 to 2015. Through the "Seoul City Records Management System," official documents from Seoul City written during the creation process of Tashkent Seoul Park and documents stored in the archives of the Seoul Eastern Park and Green Space Management Office were investigated. A total of 207 documents collected were classified chronologically, and the creation process was analyzed by dividing it into planning, design, and construction phases.
The information contained in each official document was extracted and conceptualized into short phrases and clauses using text mining techniques. The conceptualized contents were then categorized according to the relevance of their meanings, and the attributes of each category were organized. Using the grounded theory approach proposed by Strauss & Corbin (1998), the conditions for creating Korean traditional gardens overseas were analyzed. As a result of the study, 15 creation conditions were derived, which were categorized into three categories: human-environment conditions, natural environment conditions, and legal/institutional conditions.
The first category, human-environment conditions, includes ‘differences in perspectives among relevant stakeholders’, ‘a lack of understanding of Korean traditional gardens’, ‘differences in perception of urban parks’, ‘difficulties in communication and consensus-building’, and ‘the administrative capacity of the host country’. Among the factors influencing the creation of Korean traditional gardens overseas, the most significant one is ‘the differences in perspectives among stakeholders’.
The project progresses through the agreement of various stakeholders, including the client, service provider, government agencies, the host country's government, and local Korean cultural associations or Korean communities. The differences in perspectives require a significant amount of time and effort for understanding and persuasion. The 'lack of understanding of Korean traditional gardens' is a delay in the consultation process and complaints of difficulty in understanding the design document. The ‘difference in perception of urban parks’ was also confirmed. In South Korea, most urban parks are created and managed through public funds. However, in developing countries with limited budgets, there is a difference in maintaining and managing parks, as a considerable portion of the revenue comes from recreational and commercial facilities within the park, which are used by citizens. Due to the limitations of language communication, there are difficulties in conveying intentions and reaching agreements throughout the entire project process. The process of conveying intentions from Seoul City through embassies takes a significant amount of time, and the communication is not always smooth. The administrative capacity of the host country also has a significant impact on the project. Despite the cooperative efforts and administrative endeavors of the Uzbekistan government and Tashkent city, differences in administrative timeframes between Seoul City and the host country were observed during the practical process.
As for the second category, natural environment conditions, the factors include the landscape conditions of the target site, the relationship between climate and construction conditions, differences in plant characteristics, and local material supply conditions. The landscape conditions of the target site are crucial for creating the ambiance of Korean traditional gardens. Traditional fences and landscape mounding were incorporated along the boundaries of Seoul parks. Flower beds were installed to obstruct views from the outside landscape and direct the focus inward, enhancing privacy and creating a sense of tranquility within the park. The relationship between climate and construction conditions affects the construction period and quality. Uzbekistan has a dry and hot summer, while the winter is mild with significant rainfall and snowfall. Due to these climatic characteristics, there were no difficulties in landscaping during winter, but the climate with abundant rain and snow in Uzbekistan led to unexpected issues such as ground subsidence due to weak soil, affecting the quality of the project. Due to the "differences in characteristics of landscaping trees," issues arise regarding the supply of landscaping trees and variations in landscaping styles. This poses constraints on the faithful reproduction of traditional elements. Additionally, the "local material supply conditions" also present constraints on the faithful reproduction of traditional elements. For example, in the case of thatched roofs, which are traditionally used, they require regular maintenance and replacement. However, due to difficulties in sourcing local thatch materials, they are often replaced with plastic.
Third category, in terms of legal and institutional conditions, the following results were obtained: "binding agreements and legal documents," "customs clearance procedures," "project delays," "collaboration between governments and the Seoul Metropolitan Government," "relationship between project scale and budget," and "focus on construction stability and modern construction practices." Agreements serve as the basis for all negotiations, from the inception of the project to the completion and handover of facilities. The process of drafting agreements that mutually bind the involved parties is of great importance. "Customs clearance procedures" have become a significant issue in project negotiations. Delays in customs clearance result in time and economic burdens, preventing timely supply of necessary materials and hindering subsequent construction processes carried out by dispatched personnel. "Project delays" occur due to the time-consuming process of selecting the initial target site and are also influenced by local climate conditions. Delays in transportation and customs procedures, as well as delays in local administrative processes, have been identified as causes of project delays. The "collaboration between governments and the Seoul Metropolitan Government" is analyzed to be highly positive. In terms of the "relationship between project scale and budget," it was found that the project expanded to more than twice the initial scale, but the budget was not adjusted accordingly, highlighting an issue. Construction technology reviews and expert technical consultations emphasize the focus on "construction stability and modern construction practices." The sustainability of the park is prioritized over the faithful reproduction of traditional elements, considering the national reputation and the goal of fostering friendly relations between cities. The "intent of the client" in dealing with various problem situations during the project process becomes a crucial factor for the success of the project. Unlike domestic projects, overseas projects face unforeseen challenges. The client is making direct efforts to persuade the host country and resolve problems.
This study aims to examine the process of creating Korean traditional gardens overseas in order to understand the relationship between the creation conditions and the outcomes. Through this research, it is hoped that the various challenges that may arise in future projects aimed at introducing Korean garden culture abroad can be minimized, and the creation of more complete traditional gardens can be facilitated.