Gyeongju, The Museum Without Walls

Eunbi Lee 1

Prof. Kyle A. Brebner

Intermediate English Reading & Writing

3 October 2016

 

Gyeongju, The Museum Without Walls

"the museum without walls" is the nickname of the city placed in South Korea. There's a lot of good natural environment in South Korea, but I think Gyeongju is especially the optimized place to geotourism. Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, which means you can see much Korean ancient architecture in Gyeongju. A vast number of archaeological sites and cultural properties from this period remain in the city. So, now explain the possible effects of geotourism from Gyeongju.

The city can promote the traditional culture totally. To promote the culture, Korea government often missed an important thing. Keep our identity. The government mixed the other country's culture and they said: "it's globalization." But mixed culture by against someone's will is no globalization, it's destruction. For example, they rebuilt the Korean traditional building by western style of architecture. By geotourism, we can fix this problem, and successfully promote the Gyeongju's beautiful architecture and ecosystem. The geoteourism's priority goal is geomorphologically protect the ecosystem. To follow this goal, architectures' using would be undamageable. Tourists could feel uncomfortable to live in traditional architecture but geotourism's goal is not for attracting many people, is for serve the conventional culture. After all, in geotourism, the government have no reason to destroy traditional culture. "Bulguksa" which one of the famous architecture in Gyeongju has various wonderful view depends on the weather. In spring, Bulguksa shows green mountain and various flowers, in summer you can see the waterfall and great big shadow of trees , in fall you can see a colorful mountain which made by trees and in winter you can see a massive snow Buddhist temple surround by an icicle. How amazing view itself.

Also, by geotourism, economic income will raise. Tourism is the one of the biggest industry. Some cultural properties get damaged, because of an enterprise. The enterprise makes package tour and using the cultural properties as just money. But with geotourism, you don't have to worried about that. Gyeongju's properties are already great, so without enterprise, Gyeongju can earn the economic benefits. "the museum without walls" is not a just nickname, it's so true. Gyeongju was the center of Silla during 1000 years. Can you imagine the how many cultural properties exist? Among such historical treasures, Seokguram grotto, Bulguksa temple, Gyeongju Historic Areas and Yangdong Folk Village are designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Just with these architectures and guide map Gyeongju can make great tour system.

But someone thinks by geotourism it takes the time to reach the economic surplus. Geotourism's tour system is less efficient than enterprises' system. This fact may make tourist uncomfortable, also could make a low profit.To solve this problem, government's help is essential. The first step of something always brings soft underbelly. But the Achilles heel could get strong with help. In this situation, the help means government's help. Providing business know-how with a professional business man or reducing the tax is the way of help which government can.

We can create our new culture. By geotourism, tourist or citizens experiences make our culture improve, like EWN(Empowering Women of Nepal). This kind of cultural change a natural thing. And this change makes culture rich. The South Korea's tour industry focus too much on Seoul to lead the tourist. Now, a lot of people tour other countries. In this era, to raise Korean's competitiveness in the world market, we should express the geotourism in Gyeongju.