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Creation of spaces representing memories of war and their division: Focusing on the war museum

  • Civil Society and NGO
  • 2011, 9(2), pp.195~229
  • Publisher : The Third Sector Institute
  • Research Area : Social Science > Social Science in general > Other Social Science in general

정호기 1

1전남대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

There are numerous monuments and spaces in Korea about war. They honor those who fell in war in defense of the motherland, memorialize battles and other war-time events, and educate the public about war and its history. This article considers how society’s memories of war, especially the Korean War, have been embodied in spaces such as war museums. Other subjects considered are the nature of the process of establishment of such spaces and diversification of their characteristics. War museums bear clear evidence of the embodiment of official memories about the wars and the formation and change of the themes. This article looks into the definition and meaning of war museums and introspects on the formation and change of their themes. The characteristics and change in their establishment are analyzed from the perspectives of the main agent, spatial nature, and reproduction and discourse. The first war museum in Korea was established in 1962. The themes of war museums have been more consistent than not regardless of whether a military or civil government was in power. The themes have expanded and diversified to include memorializing those killed in battle; the history of each branch of the armed forces; battlefields; participation in wars; war heros; the Vietnam War, and more. This framework was defined during the military government era and changed somewhat after the civilian government came into existence but remained largely intact. This demonstrates that though the type of ruling system is important, the periodicity of war celebration also has a huge impact. Fewer war museums were established through the Kim Youngsam and Kim Daejung governments. The role of the government has changed from direct supervision to indirect support or sponsorship. During the civilian governments, not the central government but military-related organizations, local governments, and other such parties emerged as the main agents of establishment. War museums have been built at appropriate sites depending on their purpose and the main agents of establishment. The war museums have focused on education of the public through exhibitions, and their exhibition spaces are filled with military reproductions and discourse. As such, there is a critical need for the establishment of peace museums and for the restructuring of war museums.

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