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Behind the scenes at the New National Museum of Korea: an investigation of the museum's role in constructing notions of Korean national identity

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posted on 2014-12-15, 10:45 authored by Jeong-eun Lee
This thesis takes an in-depth view on the issues of nationalism and national identity found in the contemporary Republic of Korea, particularly interrogating the New National Museum of Korea. Newly opened on 28th October 2005, the new museum has been thoroughly investigated from both the inside and from external perspectives. Regarding the main subject of national identity within the museum, the Archaeological Gallery was particularly chosen. Employing ethnographic methodology was deemed appropriate as it enables the investigation of the inside of the complex and dynamic entity of the museum. Additional fieldwork from the Tokyo National Museum, Japan and the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, has been used to contextualise and enrich findings from the primary research site. The research has found the prefix 'national' to be especially significant. Museum staff are trying to be 'moderate' and non-nationalistic, but still being a national institution in Korea has significantly been influenced by the prefix. The research also puts high priority to the audiences and their experiences in the museum regarding the subjects of national identity. What has been significantly found from this research is that the New National Museum may need to take more action or do further research on their audience side, as audiences can no longer be viewed as passive and inactive receivers but rather as interactive and passionate communicators and creators of their own meanings.

History

Date of award

2007-01-01

Author affiliation

Museum Studies

Awarding institution

University of Leicester

Qualification level

  • Doctoral

Qualification name

  • PhD

Language

en

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