Kyujanggak

Originally founded as the royal library in 1776 in the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace by King Jeongjo, the Kyujanggak has not only survived the tumult of court intrigue, invasion and colonial rule, but has continued to expand. The Kyujanggak collections now contain over 260,000 items, such as The Annals of Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Sillok) and the Diary of the Office of Royal Secretaries (Seungjeongwon Ilgi), both designated UNESCO World Documentary Heritages, and many vividly detailed documents such as the illustrated manuals of various state events (Euigwe), old maps, and memoirs.

In addition to our archives, the Kyujanggak Institute also is a center of research, publication, and international, interdisciplinary coordination. At its establishment in the 18th century, the Kyujanggak's stated aims were "cultural governance and fostering talent." The Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies inherited this tradition, and continue to play a major role in fostering new scholarship and talent.

- Joseon Dynasty
1776 (Year of the accession of Jeongjo) King Jeongjo orders the creation of the Kyujanggak. The Juhapru of
the royal palace (Changdukgung) is used as the Kyujanggak building.
1777 (Jeongjo 1) The Gyoseogwan is added as an annex to the Kyujanggak.
1781 (Jeongjo 5) The framed calligraphy nameplate ‘Kyujanggak,’ written by King Sukjong, is moved to the
Juhapru. Start of the Chogye munsin jedo (Special Education System for Select-officials at the Kyujang
gak).
1782 (Jeongjo 6) Kyujanggak Annex installed in Ganghwado.
1784 (Jeongjo 8) Publication of the Kyujanggakji outlining the formation, organization and regulations of the
Kyujanggak.
1866 (Gojong 3) Byeongin yangyo (The Foreign Disturbance in the Byeongin Year) occurs. French troops
destroy the Kyujanggak Annex and carry off various texts, including the Euigwe (Manual of State Events).
1908 (Yunghui 2) The texts in the archives of Jeongjoksan, Taebaeksan, Odaesan, and Jeoksangsan are moved
to the Kyujanggak.
- Japanese Colonial Period
1910 August Dissolution of the Kyujanggak. The Yiwangjik (Colonial office governing Korean Royalty) takes
over administration of the Kyujanggak texts.
1911 February Kyujanggak texts moved to the office of the Japanese Government-General of Korea.
1928~1930 Kyujanggak texts moved to the library annex of Gyeongseong Imperial University.
- The Kyujanggak of Seoul National University
1946 Seoul National University opens. The central library of Seoul National University takes over management
of the Kyujanggak texts.
1962 Formation of the ‘Kyujanggak Texts Committee’ in the annex of the central library of Seoul National
University.
1975 Kyujanggak texts moved to the Gwanak campus of Seoul National University. Installation of the
‘Kyujanggak Texts Administrative Office’ at the Seoul National University library.
1977 The academic journal Kyujanggak begins publication.
1989 Construction of the new Kyujanggak building completed, operational tests begin.
1990 Texts of the Kyujanggak moved to the new building.
1992 Under organizational reform by Seoul National University, the ‘Kyujanggak Texts Administrative Office’
becomes independent from the library, under the title of the ‘Kyujanggak of Seoul National University.’
2005 Extension of the Kyujanggak building

Korean Culture Research Center
1969 Korean Culture Research Center of Seoul National University is founded as an annex of the College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences.
1976 Korean Culture Research Center becomes an auxiliary facility of the College of Humanities.
1979 Under Presidential Order 9535, the Korean Culture Research Center is ordained by law as an official
research facility, and annexed directly to Seoul National University.
1980 Publication of the academic journal Hanguk Munhwa (Korean Culture) begins.
1988 of the ‘Seoul National University first step 5-year research plan in Korean Studies,’ until 1992. English-
language academic journal Seoul Journal of Korean Studies begins publication.
1993 Start of the ‘Seoul National University second step 5-year research plan in Korean Studies,’ until 1998.
1999 Selected for the "Central Research Institution Support Initiative" of the Korean Research Foundation
2000 Selected for the "Humanities Support Initiative" of the Korean Research Foundation
2003 Selected as the administrative body of the ‘Korean Studies Long-term Archive Research Program’ of
Seoul National University.

Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies
2006 February Merger of the Kyujanggak and the Korean Culture Research Center to form the Kyujanggak
Institute for Korean Studies
2006 August Merger of the Jaha Seodang (Jaha School) with the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies