The National Atlas of Korea
South Korea · National Geographic Information Institute · 2007
Related Reviews & Articles
Teaching spatial thinking with the national atlas of korea in U.S. secondary level education
Gregory H. Chu; Chul Sue Hwang; Jongnam Choi · 2017
Spatial thinking, defined by the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) as a way of thinking that integrates spatial concepts, representation tools, and reasoning processes, is a key competency in K-12 geography education. However, secondary classrooms often lack well-designed resources to teach these elements. This paper documents a project that utilized the National Atlas of Korea—a freely accessible, content-rich atlas—to develop geography lesson plans for U.S. secondary education. Four experienced geography teachers were invited to design four "AP Human Geography" (APHG) lesson plans that integrate spatial concepts, thematic map interpretation, and reasoning processes, covering topics such as urban planning and urbanization, cultural diffusion, population dynamics, and development. Since the fall of 2015, these lesson plans have been implemented 19 times in secondary classrooms and 2 times in university classrooms, reaching over 800 students in Utah, Georgia, Minnesota, and Tennessee. Qualitative observations from teachers indicate that students were able to comprehend thematic maps of varying complexity, identify spatial patterns and associations, and enhance their spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and collaborative learning skills; they also gained background knowledge about Korean geography and culture. Additionally, a companion APHG curriculum alignment document helped teachers connect atlas resources to course standards. This project demonstrates that national atlases can serve as effective tools for teaching spatial thinking and provide reusable materials for APHG courses. Future efforts will expand the lesson plans by utilizing newly published volumes on the physical and human geography of Korea.
Development Directions for the National Atlas of the Republic of Korea through Comparative Analysis of National Atlases
Unknown · 2017
The Government of the Republic of Korea has published the National Atlas of Korea twice: in 2007 and in 2014–2016. The national atlas published in 2014–2016 is evaluated as more advanced than the 2007 edition in terms of format and content. However, it still leaves room for improvement in the quality of maps, infographics, and descriptive texts compared with models from developed countries. In addition, considering the rapidly increasing demand for spatial information in the 21st century and the widespread use of computer technology in society, it is time for the national atlas to be supplemented with a digital system. In this context, this paper aims to propose development directions for future editions of the National Atlas of Korea. To this end, the production and evolution of national atlases were analyzed by dividing cases into domestic and foreign; foreign cases were further classified into book-type and digital formats. Based on this analysis, improvement strategies were suggested in four respects: development of the book-type national atlas, development of a digital national atlas adopting an atlas information system, establishment of a continuous updating system, and institutional arrangements for atlas production. The paper first reviews the history of Korean national atlases, including the trial version of 1989, the single-volume atlas of 2007, and the three-volume atlas published from 2014 to 2016. Then, examples from Finland, Canada, Japan, and other countries are examined in both printed and digital forms to identify paradigm shifts in digital atlases. Finally, based on domestic and international experiences, the following recommendations are made: first, the printed national atlas should evolve into an encyclopedic regional atlas format similar to those produced in Europe, considering Korea’s relatively small territory and prior publishing experience; second, a digital atlas information system should be established by integrating and organizing spatial information currently scattered across portal sites; third, a regular updating system using internet platforms should be implemented to provide timely revisions of general maps and statistical data; fourth, legal clauses concerning the national atlas should be added to the Framework Act on National Land and its enforcement decree, and a permanent dedicated organization should be established to ensure stable production. This study provides systematic directional guidance for the compilation of future national atlases.
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