A Study on the Concept of Restoration through the Kaesong Manwoldae Digital Restoration Platform: Focusing on Cesare Brandi’s Restoration Theory and the Concept of Unità

Abstract. With the expansion of digital heritage practices, the concept of “restoration” has increasingly been applied in digital contexts. However, this trend has blurred the boundaries between restoration, reconstruction, simulation, and imaginative projection, weakening the philosophical legitimacy of restoration itself. This study revisits the proper criteria for applying the concept of restoration in digital environments, focusing on Cesare Brandi’s restoration theory, particularly the notion of unità potenziale (potential unity). It argues that even without physical intervention, digital restoration must meet the ethical and philosophical standards inherent to restoration. To examine practical applications, the study analyses the Kaesong Manwoldae Digital Restoration Platform, which was designed to distinguish between conservation and reconstruction, thereby ensuring authenticity is clearly conveyed to users. This research asserts that the concept of restoration must continue to be grounded in ethical and philosophical principles in the digital age and proposes concrete strategies for implementing this standard.