Flooding is an increasing problem in metropolitan Seoul and the management of floods and floodplains is a neglected priority for urban planning. The causes of flooding are triggered by heavy rain, or tropical storms, especially under conditions where soils are already saturated. Rivers overflow into surrounding built-up areas, bringing death and injury to people as well as considerable damage to buildings. Among the residents of Seoul, flooding is most often attributed to failure of the pumping system that is the city’s chief line of defense against inundation. However, other analysts believe that a major reduction in the amount of green open spaces is contributing to increased flood risks. The impacts of these events encompass tragic loss of life, damage to built and natural environments, and massive disruption to the lives of affected populations in the short term. In the longer term, the recovery and post-recovery phases can also cause distress, disruption, health problems, and financial hardship lasting many years. This professional report tries to focus the impact of flood on environment along Han River and Seoul, Korea’s flood prone area. Furthermore, this report prepares maps and its output that can be used during flood emergency in inundated areas. Arc GIS 10 software is used to analyze impact of flood in Seoul, Korea. / text

Universiẗat, Diss., 2004--Stuttgart.

This research explored Korean mothers’ meaning of school readiness, the process of the meaning construction, and their educational practices based on their meaning of school readiness. The research was conceptually and theoretically based on a social constructivist approach (Graue, 1993; Meisels, 1999) and Bourdieu’s conceptions of economic, cultural, and social capitals, respectively (Bourdieu, 2001). For the study, 21 Korean mothers from two kindergartens placed in two different SES communities in Seoul, Korea, participated in this study. Multiple strategies such as questionnaire, interviews, and group discussion were employed. According to the findings of this study, the meaning of school readiness to both groups of mothers involved academic and social preparation. However, it was revealed that more focus was put on academic preparation than social preparation in their every day lives. The meaning of children’s school readiness for the Korean mothers was deeply constituted within and constituted Korea’s social and cultural contexts. In terms of the SES differences in the meaning of school readiness, the community standard for extracurricular education in the lower SES community, is less than that of the higher SES community. Lower SES mothers’ lack of financial, social and cultural capitals rather than their lack of value for those classes was a primary hindrance in providing their children with such an education. This study also confirmed the significance of the ready school and the ready community in relation to children’s school readiness (Graue, 2006; Pianta et al., 1999; Wesley & Buysse, 2003). As for the process of meaning construction, mothers in both groups reported that they collected information mostly from “other mothers.” However, “other mothers” for the higher SES mothers were the mothers of their children’s friends, while for lower SES mothers, they were mothers in the neighborhood who had already sent their children to elementary school. Mothers of their children’s friends as the most powerful information sources particularly among higher SES mothers point to the importance of the mothers’ social relations with “intergenerational closure” in their children’s education (Carbonaro, 1999; Coleman, 1988; Horvat et al., 2003). Moreover, Korean mothers reported that they are affected by reports of various media such as TV, newspaper, magazines, books, and the internet. Kin was also influential information source for lower SES mothers, which was consistent with Lareau’s study (2003). / text

This thesis explores the coalescence of Japanese and Anglo-American colonial discourses in the Seoul Press. Between the Protectorate Treaty of 1905 and the Annexation Treaty of 1910, Korea was dominated not only territorially but also discursively. Under the guise of the “civilizing mission,” the Japanese Residency General sought to legitimize its colonial project in Korea. To accomplish its goals of silencing foreign opposition to Japanese colonialism and of dictating international opinion about Korea, the Residency General established an English language newspaper, the Seoul Press. In the pages of this daily paper, the views of Japanese colonial officials as well as Anglo-American observers found expression. Through an analysis of articles from the Seoul Press, this thesis will reveal the existence of a dual-layered gaze of colonialism, the rhetorical threads of which made up the tapestry of colonial communication.

This thesis explores the coalescence of Japanese and Anglo-American colonial discourses in the Seoul Press. Between the Protectorate Treaty of 1905 and the Annexation Treaty of 1910, Korea was dominated not only territorially but also discursively. Under the guise of the “civilizing mission,” the Japanese Residency General sought to legitimize its colonial project in Korea. To accomplish its goals of silencing foreign opposition to Japanese colonialism and of dictating international opinion about Korea, the Residency General established an English language newspaper, the Seoul Press. In the pages of this daily paper, the views of Japanese colonial officials as well as Anglo-American observers found expression. Through an analysis of articles from the Seoul Press, this thesis will reveal the existence of a dual-layered gaze of colonialism, the rhetorical threads of which made up the tapestry of colonial communication.

This thesis investigates the part-to-whole relationship in architectural and urban design, and the dialectic that exists between the conceptual and the perceptual in the built environment. Working with Gestalt principles and traditional architectural conventions, this projects seeks a greater understanding of how basic graphic relationships enhance our perception of the built environment, in order to find new ways in which architecture can respond to the contemporary city. This project is located in Seoul, Korea, a city currently lacking a contemporary architectural identity. It is a city of multiplicity but no coherence, and this thesis seeks to understand how the dynamic relationship between parts in the built environment can encourage greater unity at the scale of architecture and the city.

This research investigates how community-based stewardship and governance of urban parks benefits both biodiversity conservation and local residents‟ quality of life. The main objective of this research is to examine successful strategies to improve biodiversity and human well-being in urban parks. In this research, two stories of renowned city parks in metropolitan areas are interpreted: Seoul Forest Park in Seoul, Korea and Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada. These parks are compared on the basis of the history of their creation and restoration, their strategic plans, challenges to managing the parks, the role of community-based stewardship, and the relationship between city governments and community stewardship groups. By comparing two famous metropolitan city parks, this study makes recommendations for each park. To understand the beneficial programs and approaches, I further explore how the parks‟ management plans address improvement in biodiversity, and how park governance and operations encourage it, particularly how stewardship groups have improved biodiversity. Based on the research findings, this study drew several main benefits of community-based stewardship and governance of urban parks. First, supportive legislation, policies, and plans for biodiversity conservation have a decisive effect on the implementation of biodiversity improvement. Next, regular ecosystem monitoring and linking fragmented areas are mandatory to preserve and improve urban biodiversity. Also, urban green space restoration contributes not only to biodiversity conservation, but also to citizens‟ quality of life. In addition, listening to citizens‟ opinions, ensuring the safety of park users, offering cutting-edge services, and providing various cultural and educational programs, contribute to enhanced citizens‟ well-being in urban parks. Lastly, community-based stewardship groups play an essential role for improving biodiversity as well as citizens‟ quality of life in urban parks. Therefore, a successful partnership between the Parks Division in city governments and community-based stewardship groups creates a more powerful synergy that sustains biodiversity and human well-being. / Graduate

This research investigates how community-based stewardship and governance of urban parks benefits both biodiversity conservation and local residents‟ quality of life. The main objective of this research is to examine successful strategies to improve biodiversity and human well-being in urban parks. In this research, two stories of renowned city parks in metropolitan areas are interpreted: Seoul Forest Park in Seoul, Korea and Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada. These parks are compared on the basis of the history of their creation and restoration, their strategic plans, challenges to managing the parks, the role of community-based stewardship, and the relationship between city governments and community stewardship groups. By comparing two famous metropolitan city parks, this study makes recommendations for each park. To understand the beneficial programs and approaches, I further explore how the parks‟ management plans address improvement in biodiversity, and how park governance and operations encourage it, particularly how stewardship groups have improved biodiversity. Based on the research findings, this study drew several main benefits of community-based stewardship and governance of urban parks. First, supportive legislation, policies, and plans for biodiversity conservation have a decisive effect on the implementation of biodiversity improvement. Next, regular ecosystem monitoring and linking fragmented areas are mandatory to preserve and improve urban biodiversity. Also, urban green space restoration contributes not only to biodiversity conservation, but also to citizens‟ quality of life. In addition, listening to citizens‟ opinions, ensuring the safety of park users, offering cutting-edge services, and providing various cultural and educational programs, contribute to enhanced citizens‟ well-being in urban parks. Lastly, community-based stewardship groups play an essential role for improving biodiversity as well as citizens‟ quality of life in urban parks. Therefore, a successful partnership between the Parks Division in city governments and community-based stewardship groups creates a more powerful synergy that sustains biodiversity and human well-being. / Graduate

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-202). / vi, 202 leaves, bound music 29 cm

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of Religion, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.