Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea

Place-based Virtual Reconstruction of Heritage Soundscape: A Case Study of Magoksa Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Korea

A user-driven virtual reconstruction of soundscapes at Magoksa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Korea, reveals that while participants highly engaged with the system, achieving culturally meaningful experiences depended on their pre-existing cultural knowledge. The study found a divergence between interaction and comprehension, highlighting that users prioritize culturally significant sounds while filtering out social background noise. This research underscores the need for integrated interpretive layers in digital heritage design to convey intangible cultural value effectively to diverse audiences. The approach involved an interactive system allowing manipulation of distinct sonic layers—ritual, architectural, natural, and visitor-related—to construct preferred auditory environments.