Changes brought by Tourism

Cultures and Traditions are important in every country's history and identity. Tourism has brought foreign parties and cultures into a single country. Tourism is a key revenue generator in most countries, and changes in the society and culture is unavoidable. Together with the four shifts of globalisation, has allowed the attitudes and thinking of the younger generation to be influenced easily by trends.

One simple example would be as mentioned in the "Language" post. As stated, honorifics has been essential in addressing someone older, of superior status or of new aquaintance. However, the younger generation now no longer see a need and do not feel obliged to use honorifics anymore. Influence from western countries has caused this new thinking. Not only by inbound tourism, tourists going into South Korea for trips, but outbound tourism as well, where Koreans travel out to western countries and pick up new cultures.

Seoul, the capital and the largest city of South Korea is one example on how tourism has developed the city to what it is now. Seoul has developed greatly since after it's independence to now, a major business hub and tourist destination. It has developed a different direction from North Korea and is not greatly industralised and commercialised.

It has been constantly promoted by the Korea Tourism Board, recently with Korean bands coming up with songs and music videos each year to showcase Seoul. Seoul Song that was released in 2009, and Fly to Seoul for 2010. With the Korean wave affecting almost every country in Asia, using the bands to promote Seoul was a good move, however, does it showcase the original and traditional South Korea? The Korean Tourism Board has packaged South Korea into a pop country, and using idols to entice the younger generation.

Tourism has brought both positive and negative changes. South Korea has been building and preserving historical sites to keep the tourists who are interested in the unique culture coming in. An example of sites being preserved for tourism and cultural purposes would be the Five Grand Palaces. The main palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace 강녕전, is currently under restoration to it's original form.

Another example of preserving or building sites of historical value is the Korean Folk Village located in the city of Yongin. The Korean Folk Village was founded in 1973, to showcase the traditional korean culture and lifestyle. Many of the buildings within were relocated and restored to the original forms. A street market and perfomances are present and available all year round. Preserving and building all these architectures has allowed employment rates to be kept constant, and the country to flourish to it's current stage. The Korean Folk Village has brought many domestic and foreign tourists each year to South Korea.

Tourism a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions?

"In the Folk Scene Performing Arena, Farmers' Music and Dance, Korean Seesaw, and Acrobatics on a Tightrope are performed twice a day. In the Southern Part Traditional House No. 9, traditional weddings are reproduced twice a day in the spring and autumn, and during holidays, traditional holiday customs and religious ceremony folk entertainment are recreated and performed."

In Lotte World Folk Museum:
"constantly adds new features and special shows to avoid stagnation"
" traditional wedding plaza offers visitors the ability have a traditional Korean style wedding"

Tourism has brought about faster growth and development of the country, higher employment rates, preservation of sites and become a key revenue generator. However, it has encouraged locals to perform special events and performaces on a daily basis to attract tourists. Locals no longer hold ceremonies during the specific dates but do so whenever they are required to. The culture and traditions are not lost completely in the process, but they are changed and commodified to suit tourists' demands.

References for this post:

Korean Folk Village Official Website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul