Heritage tourism is predominantly concerned with exploring both material (tangible) and immaterial (intangible) remnants of the past. Importantly, heritage is not always a fixed or static outcome of the past within tourism contexts. Heritage is constantly reconstructed and re-interpreted in an attempt to meet the specific demands of tourists and reflect the socio-cultural changes of the contemporary world. Therefore, the relationship between heritage and tourism is complex, intricate and symbiotic. 

This ethnographic study of Changdeok Palace concerns the conceptual and symbolic interrelationships between heritage tourism and national identity. The study's theoretical framework suggests that heritage is not only a fundamental attribute of national culture but an important form of symbolic embodiment through which people can construct, reconstruct and communicate their sense of national belonging. Compared to the emphasis on the official and authoritative interpretations of heritage with regard to identity issues in previous studies, critical focus is placed on exploring individualised, multiple and varied interpretations of heritage. 

Here, heritage tourism experiences are emotionally driven and intuitively embodied. Changdeok Palace is viewed as an essential constituent of the history of the Korean nation and a timeless symbol of nationhood, stands in stark contrast to Seoul's international profile as a global city. It is a national space where conceptualising the nation is grounded in primordial culture and shared national memory, thereby representing the Korean peninsula as a whole. The study nurtures an empirically-informed assertion that the Changdeok experience can encourage South Korean citizens to embody and personalise a sense of national belonging and cultural continuity in everyday contexts.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Research Aim and Objectives

Introduction: Conceptualising the Research Study
Heritage Tourism: A Journey into Nationhood Experiences
Nationalism, National Identity and Memory
Korean Culture, Heritage and the 'Nation'
An Ethnographic Approach

Chapter 1. The Role of Heritage Tourism in Representing National Sentiment, Social Memory and National Identity
Introduction
Culture and Heritage: Embodied Symbols of Society
Conceptualising Heritage Tourism
Heritage Sites: Places of National Legitimacy, Belonging and Identification
Postmodern Influences on Tourism and Heritage Contexts
Conclusion

Chapter 2. Nationalism, National Identity and the 'Nation'
Introduction
'Nationalism' and the 'Nation': Social Science Perspectives
National Identity and Everyday Experiences
Globalisation, Glocalisation and Identity
Conclusion

Chapter 3. Korean Identity, Nationalism and the Role of 'Significant Others'
Introduction
Korean Nationalism, National Identity and National Culture
The Role of 'Significant Others' in the Formation of National Identity
Reconfigurations of National Awareness and Identity
Conclusion

Chapter 4. The Methodological Approach: An Ethnographic Study of Changdeok Palace
Introduction
Ethnographic Paradigms and Approaches
A Qualitative Study of Changdeok Palace: Ethnographic Applications
Recording and Analysing Social Data
Conclusion

Chapter 5. Articulating Emotional Attachments to the Nation: The National Significance of Changdeok Palace
Introduction
Changdeok Palace: The 'Palace of Prospering Virtue'
Ethnographic Conceptualisations of National Identity and Belonging
Subjective Interpretations of National Memory and Cultural Knowledge
Reflexive Evaluations of the Socio-Cultural Attributes of Changdeok
Conclusion

Chapter 6. Constructions of Nationhood: Ethnographic Interpretations of 'Significant (National) Others'
Introduction
Evaluating Japan's Perceived Impact on the Changdeok Experience
Perceiving North Korea: Reconstructing Nationhood Agendas
Westernisation and National Reflection
Conclusion

Chapter 7. Changdeok's Role in Reproducing Auspicious (National) Encounters and Experiences
Introduction
Changdeok as a Special Workplace Environment
Changdeok's Role in Facilitating Symbolic Experiences
Feelings of National Solidarity
Conclusion

Conclusion
Summarising Conceptual Themes-Indicating Knowledge Contributions
Ethnographic Re-evaluation: Other Methods and Approaches

References
Index