A Study on Travel Notes of Visits to Mount Kumgang in “Religions of Shrines and Temples 1911”

A rare glimpse into the arduous journey to Mount Kumgang during Japan's colonial rule of Korea reveals the mountain as a formidable and perilous destination before modern infrastructure. Analyzing the 1911 travel logs from the 'Religions of Shrines and Temples' collection, researchers reconstructed the itineraries of colonial officials dispatched to investigate illegal logging amid severe flooding. The study identifies key personnel, examines the social impacts of the 1911 flood, and assesses the primitive state of communication infrastructure at the time. These findings underscore the challenging conditions faced by travelers in early 20th-century Korea, providing valuable historical insights into the region's natural and administrative challenges.

Lee, B. (2020). A Study on Travel Notes of Visits to Mount Kumgang in “Religions of Shrines and Temples 1911”. The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, 42(2), 503–526. https://doi.org/10.33645/cnc.2020.02.42.2.503