• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.273-299
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• 2024

This is a qualitative research study in which three families focused on scientific culture and conducted the process of forming a family fandom using ethnography. The ultimate goal of science education is the "cultivation of scientifically literate persons.", The researcher examines families who regularly participate in informal science educational programs, such as those offered by the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, to understand the cultural ans sociological significance of these activities as part of their daily routines. This study analyzes and summarizes the experiences of three families in different home environments as to the completion of the family fandom through the process of self-sustaining cultural practice formation through family education activities, and science activities. This study found that the process tword completion is more meaningful than the completion itself, in the context of science, culture, family and fandom. The findings of this study are as follows: 1) The process of forming a family fandom began with the individual purpose of each family member. 2) The process of fandom formation was created in an organic relationship through the interaction between parents and children, and the self-sustaining cultural practice strengthened the bond and expanded the consensus on scientific culture. 3) Parents and children together share scientific culture, and unique culture in the form of sharing in their own cultural life as becoming scientifically literate people. The self-sustaining cultural practice of selecting and enjoying these scientific activities is not simple consumption of popular culture, but the role of parents as cultural designers. This has conducted experiential consumption as "refined (or sophisticated) cultural consumers," and family leisure activities as meaning production of family members so it has social and cultural implications that can be developed into a scientific culture.