Cross-cultural Comparison of Perception and Visual Attention on Korean Traditional Gardens

초록

As recognition of traditional culture and landscape preservation deepens, public interest in traditional gardens has steadily grown. However, most research on traditional gardens has primarily focused on architecture or heritage conservation, with relatively few studies addressing traditional garden perceptions. Moreover, with the growing influence of globalization and cultural diversity, the ways in which people from different regions perceive and appreciate traditional gardens have evolved. This study, therefore, investigates the perception of Korean traditional gardens of participants from different cultural backgrounds. This study also explored the landscape elements influencing preferences and visual engagement using eye-tracking technology. A total of 61 participants (34 Koreans, 27 foreigners) evaluated eight images of Korean traditional gardens, each highlighting key landscape elements such as traditional buildings, pavilions, gates and walls, water features, and vegetation. The results revealed Koreans emphasized the cultural transmission and educational significance of traditional gardens, while foreigners viewed these gardens as a new experience and an unique tourism destination. Koreans demonstrated a stronger emotional connection to natural elements such as vegetation and water features, whereas foreigners showed greater interest in traditional structures. These findings suggest that Korean traditional gardens, while conveying cultural identity and aesthetic value, also offer diverse experiences to people from various cultural backgrounds. Future urban planning and landscape design should effectively integrate natural and man-made elements to create historically significant yet aesthetically pleasing landscapes is essential. Inclusive design approaches that address the preferences of culturally diverse groups can enhance the sustainability and multifunctionality of traditional gardens in modern urban environments.

키워드