| Title |
Controversies and Significance of the Gumi Export and Gumi Industrial Complex Monuments |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2024.40.9.115 |
| Keywords |
Export Monument;Commemoration;Memorial;Memory;Memory Collective Memory;Concrete;Identity;Gumi |
| Abstract |
This research explores the roles of monuments by examining two controversies: the Gumi Export Monument and the Monument of the 50th
Anniversary of the Gumi National Industrial Complex. Since its erection in 1976, the Gumi Export Monument has served as a gateway to
the complex but is often seen as an obstacle causing traffic accidents and congestion, sparking ongoing debates about its removal. The
second controversy involves the omission of Park Chung Hee’s name, the founder of the complex, from the anniversary monument. This
raises questions about what should be commemorated. The polysemy of concrete, the material used in the Gumi Export Monument, plays a
crucial role in evaluating its value. The second controversy also highlights a shift towards individualized commemoration, reflecting a broader
social change toward accepting diverse opinions. These controversies underscore monuments' fundamental role as repositories of memory,
continually reminding society of the past and prompting reevaluation. |