1. Study Objectives and Method

❚ Background and Purpose of the Study

￮ While the federal and local governments of Korea are promoting various policies that make use of the country’s historical and cultural resources, there are currently no specialized projects for humanities resources—which comprise natural, historical, and cultural resources.

￮ Following the establishment of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, there is a process underway to create a delegated authority with special provisions that will contribute to national development and the enhancement of its residents’ welfare by leveraging its historical, humanistic, and geographical characteristics. However, there is a lack of specialized development strategies utilizing humanities resources in Jeonbuk.

￮ Despite being excluded from the government’s and Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province's historical and cultural policies, there is a need to propose regional development strategies that utilize humanities resources, and as such, a plan to establish a National Humanities Park, utilizing competitive humanities resources—is currently being researched.

￮ In this endeavor, it is necessary to analyze the current status and characteristics of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province's humanities resources, select the most competitive project areas as a national pilot project, and propose a conceptual framework and direction for the development of the National Humanities Park.

❚ Scope and Methods of the Study

￮ Assess the current status of cultural heritage (designated cultural properties, non-designated cultural properties, tourist resources, etc.), natural heritage, and folk heritage within Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province to secure its competitiveness for the creation of the Park; analyze domestic and international policy trends and case studies using humanities resources.

￮ The implementation framework comprises three stages: Stage 1 involves the conceptualization of the Park and case study analysis, Stage 2 involves the assessment of the current status and characteristics of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province’s humanities resources, and Stage 3 involves the development plan.

2. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

❚ Conceptualization of the National Humanities Park

￮ A humanities park is a place where humanities resources are well-organized and arranged in a specific area, providing visual and mental aesthetic inspiration, enjoyment, and intellectual upliftment.

- Humanities resources are categorized into historical resources, philosophical resources, religious resources, artistic resources, literary/language resources, cultural resources, and natural resources.

￮ Resources for the humanities park are selected based on their ability to provide significant humanistic, historical, and social value to people.

❚ Creation of the National Humanities Park

￮ Three major visions of the Park’s purpose, are proposed: regions with integrated social, cultural, and economic value; an expanded cultural foundation for promoting and socially disseminating humanities and humanistic mental culture; and spaces that will improve the lives of future generations.

- The goals and values of the National Humanities Park align with the National Heritage Basic Act, the Humanities and Humanistic Mental Culture Promotion Act, the Regional Culture Promotion Act, the Special Act for Supporting Areas with Population Decline, the Sustainable Development Basic Act, and the Natural Environment Conservation Act.

￮ Three forms are proposed for the National Humanities Park based on the distribution and value characteristics of humanities resources: focal district type, hub development linkage type, and linear type.

- Focal District Type: Focusing on the Janggye area in jungsu-gun, which uniquely coexists with the four major historical cultural zones—Gaya, Baekje, Silla, and Later Baekje—proposals include restoring the Iron Road, establishing a heritage park for Gaya, Baekje, and Silla, developing the Baekdudaegan Beacon Trail, and restoring the fortress of Chimryeong, known for its fortification techniques.

- Hub Development Linkage Type: Emphasizing the roots of community spirit, the area around the Honam Plain serves as a discourse expansion on the blossoming of the rice cultivation civilization. This includes developing water management facilities such as Buanjang Dike, Gyehwa Sea Wall, Byeokgolje, and Cheongho Reservoir, combined labor, and recreation such as Muan Udon Garlic, communal beliefs such as the Dangsan Festival and Tug-of-War, the land philosophy of Bangyesa, and governance systems such as Gsimje Dongheon and the Confucian Order at various hubs and connecting them.

- (Linear Type) Connecting the humanities resources of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province in a linear fashion to create paths linking historical resources such as Gwanghallu Garden in Namwon, Guryongsa Temple, Deokjiri Thatched House, the birthplace of Park Chowol, Unbong Hyanggyo, Unjisa Temple, Hwangsan Battlefield Monument, and Heungbugol.

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