• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2007

This study aims to understand the characteristics of dangsan forests and rural community forests (RCF), and seek for a landscape management scheme. Dangsan forests and RCF have been maintained by local residents since hundreds of years ago. However, many of them have been disturbed. The case sites were derived from the twenty villages previous investigated where dangsan forests and RCF's remainrd. The two sites were remodelled to restore what have been degraded. Hanbam village has maintained its dangsan forest with good management practices, whereas the dangsan forest and RCF of Goiran village showed relatively poor management. The size of dangsan forest at hanbam village was 13,784$m^2$, and major tree species was Pinus densiflora. In total, 151 trees with more than 30cm in DBH were standing on the site. As a cultural activity, the dangsan festival have been held in January $5^{th}$ by lunar calendar to the 2005 at the Jindongdan, a dangsan tree made of stone. The RCF of Hanbam village has disappeared due to the event of landslide in 1930, which needs to be restored. Goiran village has a dangsan forest and a RCF. The forests in Goiran village revealed many problems due to bad management practice. The prototype of the dangsan forest was deteriorated by introduced Prunus serrulata and the facilities for physical training. A systematic management scheme for dangsan forests and RCF's should be established with a close partnership among local residents, experts, and local government.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.82-91
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• 2007

Rural areas dominate country landscape, where the population is rich in traditional and natural heritage. Dangsan forests and Rural community forests (RCF) have been maintained by local residents for hundreds of years. However, many of these forests have been disturbed, and only small amount of Dangsan forests and the RCF remain due to the efforts of local residents. Recently, the remnants of Dangsan forests and RCF have been regarded as living traditional landscapes representing the cultural and rural background of Korea. But the value of Dangsan forests and the RCFs has not been recognized by many. This study aims to understand the characteristics and management status of Dangsan forests in Sungnam-ri, Wonju. Sungnam-ri has four villages, each of which is bordered by a Dangsan forest at the riparian buffer. Sungnam-ri has been selsected as a site for a rural village development project by the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry of Korea. Sunghwanglim (the Upper Dangsan forest) is designated as Natural Monument No.93 and entrance is limited in this area. The size of Sunghwanglim is $21,133m^2$, and the major tree species are Kalopanax pictus (Dangsan tree, Divine tree), Pinus densiflora, Abies holophylla, Acer triflorum, Ulmus davidiana, Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Quercus serrata. In total, 124 trees with more than 40 cm in DBH are at this site. As for cultural activities, the Dangsan festival is held on April 8th and September 9th of the lunar calendar at shrines in the forests. Although other Dangsan forests are smaller than Sunghwanglim, they also have similar cultural activities. The landscape of the Dangsan forests have been managed for several hundred years by the local people, and they intend to continue maintaining the Dangsan forests for the purpose of festivals and other cultural activities. The findings in this study suggest that Dangsan forests have the potential for the development of rural villages and for the improvement of cultural and natural landscapes in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.188-209
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• 2009

Dangsan forests had been established by local residents several hundred years ago. They were disturbed in various ways, but still remain in many villages where dangsan festivals are held every year. Although the remaining Dangsan forests represent korean rural cultural landscapes, their characteristics still remain to be uncovered. The objectives of this study were to understand the three elements, Dangsan tree (Divine tree), shrine and stone tower, and to investigate the culture at inland areas and seashore areas relation to Dangsan forests. Twenty cases of Dangsan forests at inland areas and twenty at seashore areas were investigated. There were nine shrines and six stone towers found out of twenty inland Dangsan forests. Fifteen shrines were found out of twenty seashore Dangsan forests. Stone tower was not found at seashore areas. Fifteen events of dangsan festival were investigated. Dangsan festival appeared to have played an important role to preserve Dangsan forests. Based on the findings of this study, Dangsan forests are, as landscape elements at inland and seashore areas, proved to have a potential for the improvement of cultural and natural landscapes in the country.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.345-354
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• 2015

In this study, the landscape characteristics and culture of the sacred Dangsan forests at Dongnae-ri, Seonae-ri, Namnae-ri, Pyeongchon-ri and Gyochon-ri were investigated. And the potential for registration in the World Heritage List has been discussed by linking the Dangsan forests at the five sites. Dangsan forest, a traditional village forests of rural Korea is a representative cultural heritage with a history of more than several hundred years of Dangsan ritual. The Dangsan forests in the neighborhood of Naganeuoseong have retained the landscape of town fortress during Choseon Dynasty and the Dangsan ritual as a living culture. The three villages inside Naganeuoseong have kept their Upper Dang, Middle Dang and Lower Dang. There were 21 old trees in total; Zelkova serrata (2), Celtis sinensis (7), Aphananthe aspera (5) trees, Carpinus tschonoskii (2) and Ginkgo biloba (3). The three Dangsan trees and an old Aphananthe aspera, known as to be planted by the Admiral Yi Sun-sin were recognized. The two villages located outside of village fortress also have kept their Dangsan ritual. It is important whether the sites possesses authenticity in order to be listed in the World Heritage. The Dangsan forests in the neighborhood of Naganeuoseong have been verified for the authenticity, which should be focused. The places need to be clarified for their landscape features formed as a Dangsan forest, and sustainable protection and management plans are to be devised.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.28-55
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• 2010

Currently, the natural monument system of Korea for naming and designation of natural monuments is based on "Chosun Natural Monument Conservation Acts for Treasure, Ancient Landmark, and Natural Beauty" enacted in 1934 during Japanese colonization period. The framework of natural monument system is still in effect, which is pointed out as a problem. The Dangsan forests and Bibo forests are Korean traditional cultural resources representing countryside of Korea. Cultural Heritage Administration follows and relies on the 'Limsu of Chosun' (1938), a report written by a Japanese, for naming and classification of natural monuments. A Dangsan forest at Yesong-ri was named "Yesong-ri evergreen forest" in 1938. They followed the naming system of "evergeen forest" until today. The objective of this study is to review the issues and problems of 'Limsu of Chosun' and natural monument naming system begun during Japanese occupation period, and suggest an alternative to the current situation where naming natural monument accordingly without discretion. Eighteen dangsan forests bibo forests were selected for examination and analysis. The names of the dangsan forests bibo forests were evaluated to find out whether various aspects of the forests are reflected in the name. The study suggests that many forests and old trees designated as natural monument should be named as "~Dangsan forest", "~Dangsan forest Bibo forest", or "~Dangsan tree" with consistency accordingly. The new names will bring a momentum to overcome the limitation of natural monument naming system continued since Japanese occupation period, and also enhance the value of Dangsan forests and Bibo forests as Korean traditional and cultural landscapes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2014

Traditional village forests called Dangsan forests represent unique cultural landscape as a national cultural asset in Korea with a history of more than several hundred years. Cultural heritage can retain their value when they are fully sustained their authenticity and management scheme. The Dangsan forests established in a large area have been designated as a natural monument by Cultural Heritage Administration. Small scale Dangsan forests, however, are not introduced to the public and on the verge of disappearance. Dangsan forests have a value as a core landscape element in rural landscapes of Korea. The two villages at Ijeon-ri, Cheongsong-gun have small Dangsan forests where Dangsan ritual is performed. At one of the villages, there is Jusanji Reservoir designated for Scenic Site # 105, from which the water is used for growing crops. In this study, the landscape characteristics of the Dangsan forests were investigated including rice paddy field, stream, and the Jusanji Reservoir. A conservation measure of rural landscape for sustainable management scheme was suggested by designating 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology'. Dangsan forests, especially where they are in small scale like those of Ijeon-ri, tend to be neglected. The Dangsan forests ought to be recognized for their value and by providing a management scheme including neighborhood elements such as farm fields and streams they can be revitalized to be core areas for conservation of rural landscape.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.347-359
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• 2016

Landscape characteristics and the culture of the sacred Dangsan forests located at Mulgeon village, Eunjeom village and Daejipo village in Mulgeon-ri, Namhae-gun were investigated. The potential of Dangsan forests for agricultural heritage, linked with paddy fields, has been discussed. Dangsan forest is a traditional village forest and a representative cultural heritage with a history of more than several hundred years. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea evaluates that the agricultural heritage is a new means and will provide a potential for the development of rural areas. The Dangsan forests were located in the neighborhood of paddy fields. The Dangsan forests are to be related to paddy fields in order to get attention as an agricultural heritage. Especially, the Dangsan forest of Mulgeon village was designated as Natural Monument ＃150 with the name, Windbreak forest of Mulgeon-ri, Namhae. It was suggested that the national monument to rename as Dangsan forest of Mulgeon village, Namhae. The size of this forest was measured to be 735 m in length and 31 m in width. Mulgeon-ri will be better recognized as a candidate place of agricultural heritage with three Dangsan forests associated with paddy fields.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.444-457
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• 2014

Dangsan forests are traditional village forests which have been established by local residents. They represent unique cultural landscape of Korea with a history of more than several hundred years. It is necessary for a cultural contents to have locality and globality so as to represent Korea. Cultural heritage can retain their value when they are fully sustained their authenticity and management scheme. Although many Dangsan forests have been on the verge of disappearance, the four villages in Sinwon-ri have retained Dangsan forests with Dangsan ritual. In this study, a designation of 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology' including Dangsan forests, Bibo forests, rice paddy field, and stream in Sinwon-ri was suggested. This 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology' can be developed to unique glocal cultural content of rural Korea, and will contribute to enhance the value of the Dangsan forest's, and revitalization of rural villages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.83-97
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• 2013

The traditional village forests in Korea such as Dangsan forests and Bibo forests form unique cultural landscape and they are national cultural assets with histories of more than several hundred years. It is important to have sustainable right to enjoy cultural heritage as well as maintaining its authenticity. Cultural assets are meaningful only when they are managed to succeed to next generations. Dangsan forests and Bibo forests need to be named properly and recognized by society as a precious cultural heritage for many generations to come in order to claim the value as traditional cultural landscapes in Korea. The traditional village forest in Dangin-ri, Wando-gun was composed of a Dangsan forest and five Bibo forests. Although this traditional village forest is large in size, it was not on the report of Cultural Heritage Administration(2005) investigated for 'Village forest of island region in Jeollanam-do'. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the traditional village forest in Dangin-ri to grant correct name and to enhance its value. In this study the characteristics of a Dangsan forest and five Bibo forests were investigated from 2006 to 2013 for physical features such as size, shape, location, tree species composition, and diameter at breast height(DBH), as well as cultural aspects and tradition. Currently the naming and designation of natural monuments by the cultural heritage administration(CHA) is based on the rule enacted in 1934. Many Dangsan forests were named as evergreen forests. This type of names does not represent the meaning of traditional village forest. It was suggested that this traditional village forest is to be named as 'Dangsan Forest and Bibo Forests at Dangin-ri, Wando-gun'. This traditional village forest needs to reclaim authenticity and rebuild its original appearance by restoration of the disturbed areas, especially in Bibo forest I.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.31-55
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• 2005

Dangsan forests and Rural Community Forests(RCF) have been historical assets for the rural communities of more than 40,000 in Korea and they have provided an identity through the cultural heritage. The Dangsan forests and the RCF are parts of a unique cultural landscape in the rural areas as components of stream landscape. In many cases, the Dangsan forests and the RCF are located close to stream corridors. The objective of this study was to understand the function of the Dangsan forests and the RCF on stream water quality and to evaluate its ecological landscape values. Through the consideration of international concensus and domestic government policy for close-to-nature stream, we could find out that Dangsan forests and RCF's have close relationship with the close-to-nature streams. The water quality of the streams close to the Dangsan forests and the RCF are maintained with local culture. It is also compared to the streams located where Dangsan forests and the RCF are absent. Eight study sites were selected. Water samples were collected at three different locations at each study site. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, total P, total N, dissolved oxygen, EC, BOD, COD and SS. Aquatic invertebrates were observed as water quality indicator species. The results showed that the number of aquatic invertebrate species, GPI, DO, EC, BOD, and SS were significantly improved in stream water due to the presence of the Dangsan forests and the RCF. The role of Dangsan forests and the RCF was evident in the conservation of stream landscape and rural culture as well as in maintaining stream water quality. The management schemes of the streams with Dangsan forests and the RCF's are also suggested.