Shim Teo as a Social Catalyst for the Elderly of Korea
Abstract:
Korean
society
can
be
described
as
a
society
that
is
built
on
the
idea
of
'care'
and
‘share’.
From
the
centuries-old
constitution
which
declared
Korea
to
be
a
'country
embracing
filial
duties'
and
an
old
saying
of
'respecting
the
elderly',
the
care
for
the
most
vulnerable
members
of
the
population
is
evident
throughout
Korea's
history
and
public
space.
As
Korea
embraces
the
digitalization
of
critical
services
and
infrastructures,
along
with
the
redevelopment
of
traditional
markets
and
sites,
the
aging
population
is
now
being
pushed
away
from
the
rest
of
society.
With
the
overall
increase
of
the
aging
population,
as
well
as
the
depression
arising
from
the
aging
population,
this
predicament
ultimately
poses
a
pressing
question
for
Korean
society:
how
do
we
best
care
for
our
elderly?
This
thesis
looks
at
the
'Shim
Teos'
(directly
translated
as
'Rest
Stops'),
as
an
answer
to
the
isolation
faced
by
the
aging
population
of
Korea.
'Shim
Teos'
are
highly
functional
urban
furniture
implemented
by
the
government.
They
are
typically
placed
in
places
of
congregation
and
high
traffic
public
spaces
for
the
citizens
to
rest
in
or
take
shelter
in.
The
concept
of
the
Shim
Teos
was
conceived
from
a
society
built
on
the
idea
of
care
for
its
citizens.
This
thesis
will
explore
different
types
of
Shim
Teos
in
relation
to
three
socially
and
environmentally
distinct
sites,
Seoul
Peace
Park,
Suwon
Terminal,
and
Suwon
Neungsil
Village,
through
in-person
site
visits,
site
documentations
and
mapping.
Different
site
conditions
will
be
cross-referenced
with
different
types
of
Shim
Teos
placed
in
the
site,
as
well
as
the
success
of
the
Shim
Teos,
in
terms
of
how
well
used
they
are.
This
thesis
will
also
explore
the
evolution
and
cultural
significance
of
older
forms
of
Shim
Teos
through
Korea's
Genre
Painting,
'Poong
Sok
Hwa'.
From
this
research,
a
series
of
new
designs
of
Shim
Teos
will
emerge,
which
will
not
only
be
a
place
for
the
aging
population
to
reconnect
with
society,
but
will
also
be
more
attuned
to
the
elderly's
physical
needs,
and
a
place
for
the
newer
generation
to
reconnect
with
Korean
culture.
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
Rick
Andrighetti
Committee
member:
Tracey
Winton
Internal-external
reader:
Jaliya
Fonseka
External:
Donald
Chong
The
defence
examination
will
take
place:
Monday,
December
19,
2022,
2:30
p.m.
In-person
ARC
2026
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.