• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.27-48
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• 2005

This study investigates the current preservation and management of four records and documentary heritage in Korea that is in the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. The study analyzes their problems and corresponding solutions in digitizing those world records heritages. This study also reviews additional four documentary books in Korea that are in the wish list to add to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. This study is organized as the following: Chapter 2 examines the value and meanings of world records and documentary heritage in Korea. The registry requirements and procedures of UNESCO's Memory of the World Register are examined. The currently registered records of Korea include Hunmin-Chongum, the Annals of the Choson Dynasty, the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat (Seungjeongwon Ilgi), and Buljo- Jikji-Simche-Yojeol (vol. II). These records heritage's worth and significance are carefully analyzed. For example, Hunmin-Chongum("訓民正音") is consisted of unique and systematic letters. Letters were delicately explained with examples in its original manual at the time of letter's creation, which is an unparalleled case in the world documentary history. The Annals of the Choson Dynasty("朝鮮王朝實錄") are the most comprehensive historic documents that contain the longest period of time in history. Their truthfulness and reliability in describing history give credits to the annals. The Royal Secretariat Diary (called Seungjeongwon-Ilgi("承政院日記")) is the most voluminous primary resources in history, superior to the Annals of Choson Dynasty and Twenty Five Histories in China. Jikji("直指") is the oldest existing book published by movable metal print sets in the world. It evidences the beginning of metal printing in the world printing history and is worthy of being as world heritage. The review of the four registered records confirms that they are valuable world documentary heritage that transfers culture of mankind to next generations and should be preserved carefully and safely without deterioration or loss. Chapter 3 investigates the current status of preservation and management of three repositories that store the four registered records in Korea. The repositories include Kyujanggak Archives in Seoul National University, Pusan Records and Information Center of National Records and Archives Service, and Gansong Art Museum. The quality of their preservation and management are excellent in all of three institutions by the following aspects: 1) detailed security measures are close to perfection 2) archiving practices are very careful by using a special stack room in steady temperature and humidity and depositing it in stack or archival box made of paulownia tree and 3) fire prevention, lighting, and fumigation are thoroughly prepared. Chapter 4 summarizes the status quo of digitization projects of records heritage in Korea. The most important issue related to digitization and database construction on Korean records heritage is likely to set up the standardization of digitization processes and facilities. It is urgently necessary to develop comprehensive standard systems for digitization. Two institutions are closely interested in these tasks: 1) the National Records and Archives Service experienced in developing government records management systems; and 2) the Cultural Heritage Administration interested in digitization of Korean old documents. In collaboration of these two institutions, a new standard system will be designed for digitizing records heritage on Korean Studies. Chapter 5 deals with additional Korean records heritage in the wish list for UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, including: 1) Wooden Printing Blocks(經板) of Koryo-Taejangkyong(高麗大藏經) in Haein Temple(海印寺); 2) Dongui-Bogam("東醫寶鑑") 3) Samguk-Yusa("三國遺事") and 4) Mugujeonggwangdaedaranigyeong. Their world value and importance are examined as followings. Wooden Printing Blocks of Koryo-Taejangkyong in Haein Temple is the worldly oldest wooden printing block of cannon of Buddhism that still exist and was created over 750 years ago. It needs a special conservation treatment to disinfect germs residing in surface and inside of wooden plates. Otherwise, it may be damaged seriously. For its effective conservation and preservation, we hope that UNESCO and Government will schedule special care and budget and join the list of Memory of the Word Register. Dongui-Bogam is the most comprehensive and well-written medical book in the Korean history, summarizing all medical books in Korea and China from the Ancient Times through the early 17th century and concentrating on Korean herb medicine and prescriptions. It is proved as the best clinical guidebook in the 17th century for doctors and practitioners to easily use. The book was also published in China and Japan in the 18th century and greatly influenced the development of practical clinic and medical research in Asia at that time. This is why Dongui Bogam is in the wish list to register to the Memory of the World. Samguk-Yusa is evaluated as one of the most comprehensive history books and treasure sources in Korea, which illustrates foundations of Korean people and covers histories and cultures of ancient Korean peninsula and nearby countries. The book contains the oldest fixed form verse, called Hyang-Ka(鄕歌), and became the origin of Korean literature. In particular, the section of Gi-ee(紀異篇) describes the historical processes of dynasty transition from the first dynasty Gochosun(古朝鮮) to Goguryeo(高句麗) and illustrates the identity of Korean people from its historical origin. This book is worthy of adding to the Memory of the World Register. Mugujeonggwangdaedaranigyeong is the oldest book printed by wooden type plates, and it is estimated to print in between 706 and 751. It contains several reasons and evidence to be worthy of adding to the list of the Memory of the World. It is the greatest documentary heritage that represents the first wooden printing book that still exists in the world as well as illustrates the history of wooden printing in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2011

This study was conducted to analyze the status of the traditional medicines registered by the Chinese state as intangible cultural heritages, and of Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion registered by UNESCO as world intangible cultural heritages in 2010, in connection with the need to have Traditional Korean Medicine skills similarly registered as world intangible cultural heritage items. Since UNESCO's adoption of the Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages in 2003, the Chinese government has pushed ahead with efforts to explore and protect intangible cultural heritage items and have them registered as world intangible cultural heritages. Thus, Benchaogangmu (本草綱目) and Huangdineijing (黃帝內經) were listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register while Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion were registered as world intangible cultural heritage properties. For Traditional Korean Medicine skills to be listed as world intangible cultural heritage properties, steps should be taken first to include the skills in the list of domestic intangible cultural heritage items and to make further explorations in the sector. Such efforts are also important in terms of the need to establish the legitimacy of Traditional Korean Medicines.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.66-72
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• 2011

The annals of Joseon Dynasty is one of UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. For the safety preservation of the waxed annals of Joseon Dynasty, the acidic and alkaline aging mechanism of beeswax and beeswaxed Hanji has been investigated. The weight loss of beeswaxed Hanji by the acidic aging was higher than those of alkaline beeswax. The acid value and relative intensity of carbonyl groups in beeswax were slowly increased with aging time. The strength of dewaxed Hanji was decreased with aging time. The significant changes of crystallinity of dewaxed Hanji by acidic and alkaline aging were not observed.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.106-119
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• 2014

The $76^{th}$ National Treasure is consisted of seven volumes of Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin; each titled by the author based on the zodiac name of the year covered, i.e. Imjin Ilgi, Gyesa Ilgi, Gabo Ilgi, Byeongsin Ilgi, Jeongyu Ilgi, Sok Jeongyu Ilgi, Musul Ilgi), Seogancheob (Letters of Admiral Yi) and Imjin Jangcho (Drafts of Imjin War Reports of Admiral Yi). These are currently in the custody of Hyeonchungsa shrine, the state-managed memorial shrine of Admiral Yi, and has been added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in June 2013 in the appreciation of its historical and academic importance as a commander's hand-written battlefield accounts during Japanese invasions of Korea. Imjin Jangcho, among these nine volumes, is a record of battles, including observations on the enemy fleets, suggestions on naval matters, battle expenditure, and methods of battle preparation, transcribed by someone else according to Admiral Yi's instructions. It is Admiral Yi's honest detailobservations on the war situation during Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 as a Naval Commander of Left Jeolla Province, till 1594 (Year 27 of King Seonjo's reign) as a Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of the South. It is a draft of the war report to be submitted to the King in a single volume as a folio (each sheet folded once to produce one leaf) bound in a side-stitched binding with five holes and inner binding of twisted paper. This study explores the condition and the treatment performed on Imjin Jangcho which could have an implication for the conservation of cultural assets on paper of late Joseon Dynasty.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

The annals of Joseon Dynasty is the most valuable resource containing the record of Korean history and has been known as one of the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. In some period, wax-treated paper was used in the annals of Joseon Dynasty to prevent the damage from pests. But, wax-treated volumes were discolored to brown, white or black, and partially cracked by the stiffened wax. It means that wax-treated volumes were damaged by the hardening and oxidizing of wax. The wax is considered as the first reason in damages on the wax-treated volume. Therefore, in this study we analysed the oxidation index of Korea traditional paper(Hanji) which is used as the restoration paper of the waxed volume in the annals of Joseon Dynasty by using FT-IR. As the analysis of FT-IR, the traditional two-layed stamping paper (Hanji sample F), which was treated by starch in its surface, was shown the most stable state after the accelerated ageing test.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.28
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• pp.5-19
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• 2007

The annals of Joseon Dynasty is the most valuable resource containing the record of Korean history and has been known as one of the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. There was a period that the annals of Joseon Dynasty was used with beeswax to control pests. It is considered as the prior reason of damage on the annals of Joseon Dynasty. Therefore, in this study we examined the restoration paper(Hanji) as the solution of damage in the waxed volume of the annals of Joseon Dynasty. FT-IR spectrometer was used to examine traditional paper inside and outside of Korea and accelerated artificial aging paper. As a result of FT-IR analysis, spectrum did not showed its big difference in all paper used in this study. However, there was a different spectrum in paper which was made with not Broussonetia kazinoki, but Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea and Dioscorea batatas. Among traditional papers in various countries, spectrum of Korean paper showed the most similarity from the annals of Joseon Dynasty. In comparison between accelerated artificial aging paper and waxed volume, we could identify the change of spectrum affected by the damage.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.73-79
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• 2011

The annals of Joseon Dynasty is one of the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. For the safety preservation of wax applied volumes of the annals of Joseon Dynasty, the aging behavior of beeswax and beeswaxed Hanji with $CO_2$, $O_3$, $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ gas has been evaluated. The weight loss of beeswaxed Hanji after aging under ozone gas were increased because of strong acidity of ozone. The acid value and relative intensity of carbonyl groups in beeswax were stabilized with aging time. The physical strength of dewaxed Hanji after ozone aging were rapidly decreased by aging time. The crystallinity of dewaxed Hanji were stabilized at all aging times.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.3
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• pp.91-113
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• 2001

History always be re-interpreted as the time flows. 'The Sillok', Which was registered in Memory of World of UNESCO in 1997, is comprehensive documents of the Chosun Dynasty, which had been compiled after kings' death, The Sillok encompasses 473 years of the reign in their 848 volumes(1,893 chapters). It was a history itself and has been main source in studying Korean history. Due to the rise of studies on the Sillok, time has come to explore the nature of the Sillok and to criticize the text, which would be called 'The Sillok-Study'. In this context, this paper examined three concepts that categorize the nature of the Sillok as historical materials ;Is it book or record?; The Sillok in register system in pre-modern society; And the Sillok as the National Archives. Korean historians, including myself, haven't yet examined the question whether the Sillok is the Book or Record in terms of archival science. At first, I regarded it as history book, and with this presupposition, wrote several papers on the characteristics of the Sillok. However, I recognized that the Sillok are close to record rather that history book as I examined the definition of glossary of librarian study, OED (Oxford English Dictionary) and Encyclopedia of Britannica, etc. Definitely, the Sillok was neither compiled and published to be read and sold publicly, nor meant to the works of literature or scholarship. one may say that the court-historians wrote comments on the facts and therefore it was just scholarly work. However, because the court-historians produced their comments on their own businesses, the outcome of 'their scholarly works' were also records conceptually, as were daily court-journalists in Rome. Its publication also had a absolutely different meaning from that of modern society. It was a method to preserve the important national records and distributed each edition of them to plural repositories for its safety and security. How can we explain its book-like shape and the procedure of compilation after a kings' death. The answer is as follows ; In pre-modern society, it was a common record-keeping system in the world to register records materials in order to arrange the materials of different sizes and to store them conveniently. And the lack of scientific preservation or conservation skill also encouraged them to register original records. Actually, the court-historians who participated in the compiling process called themselves "registering officers". On the other hand, similar to social hierarchy, there was a hierarchical system of records, and the Sillok was placed at the top of this hierarchy. In conclusion, the Sillok was a kind of registered records in the middle ages and the supreme records in the records-world. In addition to this we can also conceptualize the Sillok as archives. Through the compiling process, the most important and valuable records were selected to be the parts of Sillok. This process corresponds to the modem records appraisal. In the next step, it was preserved in the Four Archives(史庫) which located at remote site as archives and only accessible by the descendents in the future, who might be the people of the next dynasty. And nobody could access or read the documents at that time except the authorized court-historians who were archivists of the Chosun Dynasty. From this perspective, I conclude that Sillok was the supreme confidential archives in the register system. I work for the Government Archives as a historian and archivist. Whenever I entered the exhibition hall of the Government Archives and Records Service(GARS) and saw the replica of the Archives of Taebeak Mountain built during Chosun period, I always asked to myself a question whether the Sillok can be a symbol of the archival tradition of Korea and the GARS. Now, I can say, 'Yes!' definitely.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.168-171
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• 2006

The Haenyeo of Jeju exists as a unique human resource only in Korea and Japan in the world. Especially, the anti-Japan opposition movement of the Haenyeo of Jeju, which had started to get the right to live on their own in 1931, had developed as the national liberation movement by struggling against a colonial of Japan and the official regulation association that was a plundering organization of Japan. Accordingly, there is making an effort to register Jeju's women divers as The National Treasure in UNESCO's Memory of the world. In this research, we are going to make stuff like a digital storytelling, characters, animation movies, games, and hompage to let our children understand and succeed the spirit and culture of the Haenyeo. We'll also use these contents for the education. We examine ways to recreate the culture resources related to the Haenyeo who gradually vanishes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2008

The annals of Joseon Dynasty is the most valuable resource containing the record of Korean history and has been known as one of the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. There was a period that the annals of Joseon Dynasty was used with beeswax to control pests. It is considered as the prior reason of damage on the annals of Joseon Dynasty. Therefore, in this study we analysed the spectrum of traditional paper inside and outside of Korea, beeswax and accelerated artificial aging paper to restore the waxed volume in the annals of Joseon Dynasty by using FT-IR. As a result of FT-IR analysis, spectrum did not showed its big difference in all paper used in this study. However, there was a different spectrum in paper which was made with not Broussonetia kazinoki, but Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea and Dioscorea batatas. Among traditional papers in various countries, spectrum of Korean paper showed the most similarity from the annals of Joseon Dynasty. In comparison between accelerated artificial aging paper and waxed volume, we could identify the change of spectrum affected by the damage.