Park Han-sol reports on Korea's financial regulators, along with fintech and insurance. She previously wrote about the art world, from biennales and exhibitions to fairs and auctions, with a focus on Seoul and the figures shaping the scene. Before joining The Korea Times, she spent a year at ABC News' Seoul bureau, contributing to coverage of major Asia-Pacific events.
Historic annals of Joseon find new home in Pyeongchang museum
The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province / Courtesy of CHA
By Park Han-sol
Original copy put on display year-round for first time
PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province — The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty opens its doors on Nov. 12 in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, as the only institution in Korea exhibiting an original copy of the historic annals from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom year-round.
The “Joseon Wangjo Sillok,” or the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," documents the kingdom’s history and state affairs spanning 472 years from its founding by King Taejo to the 25th King Cheoljong. Several copies of the annals were produced, with each enshrined in separate archives across the nation for safeguarding against war, fire and natural disasters.
Among them was a copy stored at the Odaesan Historical Archives, nestled in a secluded, mountainous region in present-day Pyeongchang. Established in 1606 after the 1592-98 Japanese invasions of Korea, the repository stayed in operation until around 1910, managing annals as well as “Uigwe,” or illustrated manuscripts for royal protocols of major ceremonies and rites.
However, in 1913, early in the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule, all volumes of the annals and parts of Uigwe at Mount Odae were transferred to Tokyo Imperial University by the Japanese Empire. A mere decade later, most were destroyed in the aftermath of the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923.
It wasn’t until the 21st century that the surviving documents – dubbed the Odaesan Edition – were repatriated to Korea through the concerted efforts of the Korean government and Buddhist community. The annals were returned in 2006 and 2017, and the protocols in 2011.
At present, the Odaesan Edition comprises 75 volumes of the annals and 82 volumes of the protocols.
"Seongjong Sillok," or "Annals of King Seongjong," published in 1606 / Courtesy of Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
Pages from the royal protocol, published in 1890, document a ritual held to present the name of a new temple to King Yeongjo. Courtesy of National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
It is these rare records with storied historical backgrounds that have found a home at the newly founded national museum, located just 6 kilometers away from the original Joseon-era archive site.
The museum aims to serve as an institution in charge of conserving, researching and showcasing the edition, in addition to 1,207 related artifacts, Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) officials announced during a press conference, Nov. 9.
The two-story building houses permanent and special exhibition halls, storage and an immersive digital gallery, with the last set to open in the coming months.
The inaugural permanent exhibition provides a glimpse into the production and safekeeping processes of the royal documents – both the annals and the protocols – as well as the history behind the establishment of satellite archives.
The inaugural permanent exhibition at the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty displays the Odaesan Edition of the “Joseon Wangjo Sillok," or the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," and "Uigwe," or manuscripts for royal protocols. Courtesy of CHA
One particularly noteworthy section elaborates on the unique characteristic that sets the Odaesan Edition’s annals apart from other versions.
“Interestingly, the portion of this edition features the annals’ draft pages, with corrections and revisions marked in red and black, which were originally meant to be destroyed upon completion,” noted curator Seo Jeong-min.
The reason can be traced back to the economic difficulties following the 16th-century Japanese invasions of Korea, when efforts were made to republish copies lost in the war. Due to a scarcity of printmaking tools and paper, draft pages with relatively inferior paper quality were stored at the Odaesan Historical Archives.
“From a contemporary perspective, however, the Odaesan Edition’s annals hold significant historical and archival importance as these pages provide insights into the mid-production process of royal documents that cannot be witnessed in other versions,” she said.
The CHA officials noted that this marks the first occasion for an original copy of Joseon annals — of any version — to be on display year-round for public viewing.
The museum is holding a relocation parade — a reenactment of the transfer of the annals and royal protocols to Mount Odae — and celebratory performances on Nov. 10, followed by a grand opening ceremony a day after.
Admission is free.