Analysis of the Formation and Institutionalization Process of Jeju Island’s No Kids Zone Operation Discourse Based on Foucault’s Discourse Theory and Integrated Threat Theory

This study analyzes the process by which preemptive rules (i.e., No Kids Zones) become institutionalized through the interaction of discourse, threats, and rules—not simply through personal managerial choice. To this end, it presents a theoretical framework that combines Foucault’s Discourse Theory and Stephan and Stephan’s Integrated Threat Theory, which is then used to analyze in-depth interview data from 11 No Kids Zone operators on Jeju Island.The analysis demonstrates that the operators perceive both realistic threats and symbolic threats arising from recurring incidents and online evaluations. These perceived threats are organized into justification discourses such as ‘safety and responsibility’, ‘service identity’, and ‘economic efficiency’. These discourses are then disciplined and standardized into operational rules, including reservation and admission filtering systems, notices of age restrictions, spatial separation, and review management protocols. These operational rules gain legitimacy through social approval and ultimately stabilize as a ‘truth system.’ The study proposes an integrated model linking discursive mechanisms (social justification and institutionalization) with psychological mechanisms (threat perception). It further suggests a preemptive response system based on the standardization of risk communication as a practical measure for the field.