My thesis involved an in-depth analysis of Yeonpyeong Island in South Korea. The island is located off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, only 3.6 kilometers from the internationally regulated Limit Line between North and South Korea. In order to pursue constructive research, I had arranged a meeting with an associate from the Republic of Korea Marine Corps before my departure, as the island is a designated military surveillance territory for the Korean government. The marine soldier who greeted me became my escort for the rest of my stay. 

Though my survey of the Marine Corps base camps, I was able to witness the actual destruction and damage that occurred during the 2010 North Korean bombardment of the island. The punctured walls and ceilings, along with shattered windows of the buildings, spoke silently of the countless explosions caused by the missiles. According to the marines, some portions of the buildings were excluded from the reconstruction plan in order to preserve that historic moment. 

Having seen the significant presence of North Korea through this tragedy, I also had the opportunity to learn about the ongoing dispute between the North and South over the island's coastal border. This included accounts of northern fugitives who had crossed the North – South border via fishing boats to land on the island and take up residence there. Although the island falls under the jurisdiction of the South, the ongoing attempt by North Korea to redraw the Limit Line has created a permeability of the island's boundary. This understanding helped me realize the potential for redefining the identity of Yeonpyeong Island through my thesis. 

As part of my research, I made visits to several restricted areas, including closed beaches that were only accessible by military personnel. Likewise, certain regions—especially the northern shores of the island—were strictly controlled by the military, and mostly inaccessible by civilians. Such restrictions created a rather unusual demographic distribution, concentrating the settlements within the southeast part of the island, which is protected by the adjacent mountain range and far from the military sites. 

Overall, surveying Yeonpyeong Island and studying its unique nature led me to ultimately redefine the island in a larger context, and articulate an architectural proposal. Unlike the existing identity of the island as South Korean territory, I began to reconstruct it as a neutral territory, an extension of the Demilitarized Zone. The analysis of topography, demography, major circulation and restricted spaces, as well as the aftermath of tragedy, became potential factors for a new architectural intervention of neutrality.