문화유산의 진정성과 관광자원화

Authenticity of Cultural Heritage and Its Development as Tourism Resources: With Reference to Donggung and Wolji in Gyeongju, South Korea

Tourism plays a very important part in cultural consumption behavior. With the increase in cultural capital, tourism tendencies are turning to postmodern ones which pursues much individualized and differentiated experiences. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize cultural heritage as tourism resources so as to respond to the market changes. In this respect, “Donggung,” a separate palace of the Silla era, which has been renovated on a large scale and maintained as one of the major tourism resources in Gyeongju can also offer various forms of cultural production materials from the cultural and economical viewpoints. Considering various forms of authenticity based on the tendencies and motivations of tourists seeking cultural heritage, an issue on authenticity of tourism resources by the reconstruction of “Donggung”, it can be manipulated by the concepts of existential authenticity and customized authenticity. Therefore, from the viewpoint of tourism, this study points out some major issues regarding the distortion or loss of authenticity of some cultural heritage due to commercialism. This study also suggests plans to construct some display rooms which can house the valuable relics excavated from “Wolji”, to construct some attractive tour courses, facilities and programs to pass on most interesting stories about major kings of the Silla kingdom through various media, and to construct tourist information centers to manage the tour courses.