• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2006

Understanding the readability of texts in signs is necessary to enhance the communication effectiveness of the self-guided interpretive signs. This study compared signs' readability by different text attributes. A total of 1391 respondents participated in the questionnaire survey at the 'Neodeolgeong' area in Mudeung-Mountain Provincial Park during September-November of 2004. This study found that 'Hy Gyunmyungjo' in letter style, 'both-side' in letter justification, 190% (HWP 2002) in space between lines, 10 (HWP 2002) in space between letters, and 25 in the number of letters in a line showed the highest readability in text size 58 point, respectively. This study illustrated an example of an interpretive sign made up by combing the five text attributes which show the highest readability. This study also discussed the interpretive signs' text design and future research questions.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.123-140
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• 2019

This study analyzed problems of interpretive signs along Eorimok-Yeongsil Trail on Mt. Hallasan National Park, focusing on factors of distracting visitor's attention from reading and understanding the signs. Eorimok-Yeongsil Trail has a total of 86 signs, and according to their purpose and content, they are classified into thirteen general signs, sixteen location signs, nine safety signs and forty-eight interpretive signs. Interpretive signs provide visitors with information and explanations about the nature and human resources of Mt. Hallasan as well as enhancing the opportunity for self-guided interpretation. The contents of interpretive signs of Eorimok-Yeongsil Trail are composed of landscapes, flora and fauna, topography, geology, history and culture, of which 70.8% of the total are related to plants and animals. Interpretive signs on the Eorimok-Yeongsil Trail do not attract visitors' attention because of the low readability, inappropriate locations and frequent errors in translation from Korean into other languages. The causes of low readability of interpretive signs include thirty-six physically damaged and faded signs, twenty-two improper font sizes and misuse of color schemes and five unclear description signs. The reasons for the incorrect locations include twenty-two long distances from the trails, twenty-one inadequate heights and fifteen inconsistencies in descriptions and locations. Problems with English use include eight grammar and spelling errors, twenty-one incorrect translations, and twenty-six English names missing.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2006

Interpretive sign is a communication medium that is often used in self-guided interpretation. Understanding interpretive signs and their users is important to maximize the effectiveness of interpretation. This study evaluated design attributes of interpretive signs by visitor's personal characteristics and visiting patterns using Importance-Performance Analysis(IPA). Data were collected from August to September of 2003 at the self-guided trail in Naejangsan National Park, Korea. Visitors using the trail participated in a questionnaire survey, and a total of 276 subiects was used for data analysis. The IPA results showed that female(23.3%) than male(13.3%), low age group(43.3%) than middle(0.0%) and high age group(0.0%), higher education group(36.7%) than lower education group(0.0%), medium size group(33.3%) than large(10.0%) or small group(16.7%), 'with child' group(66.7%) than 'without child' group(20.0%) rated higher importance and lower performance on more design attributes of the interpretive signs. These groups also showed higher rate of 'Concentrate Here(CH)' attributes that require urgent improvement. The 'with child' group showed the especially high rate of 'CH' attributes. The results suggest that interpretive signs need to be designed considering diverse user groups. It is also necessary to develop some standardized items of the sign design attributes for more efficient and reliable implementation of IPA and other evaluative works.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to provide basic visitor information for effective park management and to understand visitors' perception about the interpretive media which is utilized as a self-guide environmental interpretation in Weolchusan National Park. To accomplish the purposes of study, a questionnaire survey was chosen and the 196 valid samples among them were analyzed. Among who used the interpretive media, the largest proportion used the information board of park use-resources, and the usage rate of interpretive label of woody plant, interpretive sign of cultural asset, and self-guide tour were shown to be relatively high. However, the park brochures(map), bulletin boards, park web sites, LED sign, and visitor center exhibits were evaluated that use efficiency was low. In the analysis of importance-performance, visitors were perceiving the importance of all form of interpretive media greatly. The performance of interpretive media was also evaluated as affirmative.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.362-369
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• 2005

Readability, an indicator measuring the easiness of reading letters, is an important element that determines the communicative effectiveness of self-guided signs. This study examined how the letter design elements of self-guided signs influence on readability to provide basic information for more effective sign designs. Data were collected from August to November of 2003 at a self-guided trail of Naejangsan National Park, Korea. A total of 375 subjects participated in the questionnaire survey, and 94.7% of them were used for data analysis. Among the total of 19 attributes, five attributes such as number of letters, number of type styles, ratio of picture area on the signs, space between letters, type size influenced on readability. These five attributes explained 50.0% of the variation in readability. The number of letters was the most influential attributes on readability, followed by the number of type styles, ratio of picture area on the signs, space between letters, and type size. The effectiveness of signs may be efficiently increased by managing these five major attributes with more concern.