The purpose of this paper is to analyze the possibility of Hwaho eco-museum planning
using rural modern cultural heritages. Hwaho village located in Jeong-eup, Jeollabukdo
where it shows aspects of Japanese Colonial Period in rural areas. There are houses, a
clinic, farms, roads, schools and some shops in which Japanese had built in Hwaho area.
These are the most visible sign of Japan's colonial occupation of Korean farming area
uniquely. Like another farming areas, this village’s population is in decline and village is
getting short-handed these days. So it occurs to collapse of the village community and has
difficulty to pass down a cultural heritages‒folktales, Dangsan ritual, and memories of the
colonial exploitation that they have experienced. Some Hwaho villagers see a darker side
as Japanese Colonial legacy. In other regards, however, the legacies are considered to have
educational significance by most other villagers. This study tried to offer the application
and conservation method of the rural modern cultural heritages by the concept of
eco-museum in Hwaho. Therefore, this reviewed three elements-Heritage, Participation and
Museum-of eco-museum concept which are suggested by Kazuoki Ohara to explore
possibilities and limits of the Hwaho eco-museum planning using rural modern cultural
heritages. There are rich cultural heritages and people’s active participations. It also has
elements which need are required in museum activities. Finally, this study contends that
Hwaho has good possibility of authentic eco-museum planning.