• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.38-45
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• 2018

Baekdudaegan is Korea's traditional geographic system which incorporates the mountains and water to constitute an organism. In this system, the mountain ranges of the Korean peninsula is categorized into one Daegan, one Jeonggan and thirteen Jeongmaek: a classification that follows the principle that 'a mountain range separates watercourse (山自分水嶺).' Among them, the scope of this study encompasses one Daegan and nine Jeongmaek which fall in South Korea. As for the methodology, this study interviewed the visitors to Baekdudaegan in South Korea and analyzed 2,519 responses. Among the interviewee, a very low proportion of 5.1% answered that they 'know' the traditional geographic system and those who 'know' Baekdudaegan were merely 39%. Only 11.8% said they 'know' Jeongmaek. Meanwhile, more than 60% answered that the natural environment of Baekdudaegan was 'well conserved,' and this can lead to the judgment that the environment is well conserved. Many answered that it was desirable to include Baekdudaegan in the curriculum, most effectively from the primary school, for promoting the awareness of Baekdudaegan. Currently, the traditional geological system is not included in the promulgated curriculum of the Ministry of Education. Therefore, the lessons from this study lead to a suggestion that the curriculum by the Ministry of Education shall allot courses on this traditional geological system. This policy will inculcate the identity of the Korean nationality and the fundamental concept of conservation by stimulating the affection to our territory and environment.