Shared national memory as intangible heritage: Re-imagining Two Koreas as One Nation

This paper suggests that shared national memory, as intangible heritage of tangible heritage, is of crucial significance in encouraging South Korean nationals to reaffirm their ethnic and cultural affinities with North Korea during heritage tourism experiences in Changdeok Palace. Importantly, heritage can be a safe and neutral ground for mediating political contentions and conflicts. Despite the political tensions between the two Koreas, the essence of ‘Koreanness’, deeply grounded in shared national memory revived during the Changdeok experience, facilitates the process of re-imagining two Koreas as one nation. The intangible heritage of Changdeok Palace stands as one definitive symbolic representation that augments national sentiment at a time of redefining notions of national belonging and re-emphasising entrenched primordial associations with North Korea.

Research highlights► Recognising intangible values of tangible heritage such as shared national memory. ► Heritage as a safe and neutral ground for mediating political contentions and conflicts. ► Use of multiple ethnographic strategies to produce rich and innovative accounts. ► Heritage tourism as an effective means to reimagine Korea as one national entity.