『大京城案內』와 朝鮮博覽會에 등장하는 妓生 연구

Abstract

This paper attempted to analyze the content and reveal its meaning, focusing on the tourist guide 『Daegyeongseong Guide』 published in 1929 and the gisaeng image that appeared in the Joseon Expo. In particular, the 1929 Guide to Daegyeongseong has many references to the Joseon Expo. The Joseon Expo held at Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1929 was an ambitious project promoted by the Japanese Government-General of Korea to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the city administration. Moreover, among the many performances held at the Joseon Expo, the performance of the Gisaeng Association, or Gwonbeon Gisaeng, was very popular.
 With that argument, the motive for publication of 『Daegyeongseong Guide』 was clearly stated in the book. As can be seen from this, it was produced to coincide with the ‘Joseon Expo’ held in 1929. The editor gives meaning to the Joseon Expo to the extent that he calls it an important duty and not an accident. Originally, the purpose of the exposition was to provide an exhibition effect to a large number of people in a short period of time, so the exposition presented gisaeng as a symbol of Joseon. In this way, the image of gisaeng became a decisive opportunity to imprint gisaeng as a representative image of Joseon to people at home and abroad, and even to those who did not visit the exhibition, it gave a hint that the flower of the fair was gisaeng.
 Here, the image of a gisaeng has an important meaning. 『Daegyeongseong Guide』 appears to be almost identical in content and format to travel guides published in Japan, including the Japanese Government-General of Korea.
 Of course, the length of the guide differs somewhat, but it is difficult to find differentiation. Among them, considering the inclusion of images of parasites, it can be understood as an image representing Japan’s imperialist ideology against the ‘other’ called Joseon.