Title Heritagization Processes and Governance in Coal Mining Settlements after Mine Closure
Authors 초용개(Xiao, Long-Kai) ; 이연경(Lee, Yeon-Kyung)
DOI https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.9.191
Page pp.191-202
ISSN 2733-6247
Keywords Coal Mining Heritage; Coal Mining Settlement; Heritagiszation Process; Governance; Pingxi Railway Corridor; Taiwan
Abstract The Pingxi Railway corridor in New Taipei City, Taiwan, developed into a series of coal-mining settlements during the Japanese colonial period, forming a typical coal-mining landscape. After the war, it became one of the largest coal-producing regions in Taiwan. However, changes in energy policy and a series of mining accidents led to the sequential closure of coal mines. From the 1990s onward, central and local governments have promoted the heritagization of former mining areas alongside regional revitalization initiatives. At the same time, retired miners, civil society groups, and local residents have actively participated in preserving mining culture. Nevertheless, the heritagization processes in the three settlements have followed different trajectories, reflecting differences in governance structures and levels of community participation. This study adopts a comparative approach, focusing on three former coal-mining settlements: Houtong, Shifen, and Jingtong. It examines patterns of transformation into mining heritage and analyzes the governance structures involved in this process. The findings show that, even under similar historical conditions and policy frameworks, differences in participatory mechanisms significantly shape the outcomes of heritage governance. This suggests that integrated governance plays a crucial role in shaping cohesive heritage landscapes in the process of mining heritagization.