The simulation and simulacra of the lost architectural cultural heritage: hwangnyongsa 9-story wooden pagoda

This study examines the restoration dilemma of the Hwangnyongsa 9-Story Wooden Pagoda, addressing how authenticity and historical integrity can be preserved when the original no longer exists. Drawing on Jean Baudrillard’s concepts of simulation and simulacra, it analyzes how accumulated images and symbolic representations of the pagoda have evolved into an independent cultural reality detached from the original. Methodologically, the study develops an interpretive model that integrates literature analysis, archaeological sources, and comparative case studies to explore modern reinterpretations of lost architectural heritage. The model evaluates two restoration pathways – physical reconstruction and digital reproduction through augmented reality (AR). Findings show that physical restoration risks producing a new simulacrum (a self-referential representation detached from the original) that distorts authenticity, while digital restoration enhances symbolic reconstruction and public engagement but may also cause misrepresentation. The study concludes that an optimal approach should integrate technological innovation with cultural ethics and collective memory, bridging historical narratives with contemporary experience. This theoretical–practical model contributes to heritage preservation discourse by offering a balanced framework for reconstructing lost architectural heritage that sustains authenticity, fosters public learning, and supports sustainable cultural transmission.