The Importance Of Mount Jiri Mission Site Conservation In South Korea

Abstract

An aging Christian missionary village has been located on the high peak of Mt. Jiri, which is a famous national park in South Korea and is loved by many hikers. The buildings used by the missionaries at this site extend across Nogodan (the old altar area used for ancestral rites) and Wangshirubong (a very high mountain peak). Almost all of the Nogodan buildings have been destroyed, and only twelve of the Wangsirubong buildings remain. In the early to late mid-twentieth century, these buildings were a space for Protestant missionaries in Korea to recharge while avoiding endemic diseases, such as malaria and cholera. These historic buildings have been neglected and are severely damaged. The best way to preserve these buildings is to register these sites as cultural assets. This way, they would receive national protection and voluntary support from citizens. However, since religious circles, environmental groups, and some citizens have protested against it, they have not been registered as cultural property. Therefore, this study will analyze this opposing logic more specifically and argue that these sites should be registered as cultural assets, and protected as Korea's historical and cultural heritage as soon as possible.