Story matters
What are two common elements shared by abandoned mental hospital Gonjiam (Korea) and the Berlin wall? First, they were built from bricks. Second, there are stories to remember. An outstanding space/place is usually remembered because of its historical or fascinating story. No matter how weird the appearance is, the impression of that place/space remains because of the meaning attached to it.
Anyone can tell his/her story thanks to smart devices and social media
Nowadays, with 3.3 billion smartphones users worldwide (Statista, 2019), the way those stories are told has been changed significantly. In details, the narratives can be anyone to tell the hidden mystery remained.
Gonjiam haunted asylum in Korea – one of the most terrifying haunted places in the world – is rumoured to be full of bodies, ghosts and demons. It was forced to close after the hospital owner suddenly became crazy, and unexplained deaths of doctors and patients were recorded. Although the local government has opened one investigation, it did not come up with any official announcement. Since then, curious individuals have been trying to “sneaky” into the area with their smartphones, cameras to find out the truth. Using their smart devices, the story of Gojiam haunted asylum finally exposed. It turned out that there was nothing apart from a giant mess and countless hand-writings on the walls – from the visitors to mark their “triumph over ghost and demon” – to show-off the bravery.
By: MeloCat (Youtube)
In short, the space/place represented becomes more transparent with the existing digital media/platform because anyone can tell the story from their perspective. The untold truth cannot be hidden!
Reference
Statista. (2019). Number of smartphone users worldwide from 2016 to 2021 (in billions). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/
Adore Yourself 