2 - Exploring Border Temporalities: Remembering Korean State Villages Visually

This paper delves into the recurring theme of the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) within contemporary South Korean art. Serving as both the oldest enduring front line of the Cold War and a sealed heritage site steeped in emotional resonance, trauma, and tension, the DMZ remains an enigmatic and imaginary entity to the public due to stringent access restrictions. Paradoxically, this very inaccessibility has spurred creative inspiration. The paper focuses on artworks that illuminate the state villages located near the DMZ. Modeled after Israeli Kibbutzim, these state villages were established within the Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) during the military regime for purposes spanning agriculture, military strategy, and propaganda. Originating in the early 1970s, these villages have undergone continual transformations in their political and economic status as the nation’s political landscape evolved. As their original political significance dwindled, the villages and their residents have gradually been forgotten in other parts of the country. The paper explores Kang Yong Suk’s two photographic projects, emphasising the ways in which they highlight the transforming tempo-spatial characteristics of the villages, especially by portraying everyday, smaller-scale memories in play. Through this analysis, the paper unveils the meaning and significance of these villages as a Cold War mnemoscape, revealing the intricate and multifaceted tapestry of border temporalities.