Old Maps and Geography Books Can Be Viewed at a Glance Through Digital Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] From the end of this year, the National Geographic Information Platform will allow users to view information from old maps such as Dongguk Yeojido and Daedong Yeojido, as well as geographic records depicting the daily life of the Chungcheong-do, Gangwon-do, and Gyeonggi-do regions at a glance.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s National Geographic Information Institute signed a memorandum of understanding for joint use of map information with the National Institute of Korean History and the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University.

Through this, some map information held by each institution, including the National Geographic Information Institute’s ‘Human Geography Information Service,’ the National Institute of Korean History’s ‘Historical Geography Information Service,’ and Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies’ ‘Old Map Digital Map Service,’ will be accessible at a glance on the National Geographic Information Platform.

Detailed geographic information services will also be provided for old maps of the Chungcheong-do, Gangwon-do, and Gyeonggi-do regions, showing data such as the total number of households (hogu chongsu), roads, Gosanseong (old mountain fortresses), Bangri (lower administrative districts), Bongsu (beacon fire facilities), Yeokcham (Joseon Dynasty transportation and communication stations), and Eupchi (modern-day city or county offices).

The National Geographic Information Platform is a map information service site operated by the National Geographic Information Institute, holding all paper maps and digital map information of Korea from the Japanese colonial period and after the 1960s.

The National Institute of Korean History plans to further accelerate its historical geography information service, which combines history and geography, through this agreement. It will actively proceed with the construction of a Historical Geographic Information System (HGIS), a step beyond simple map information services.

To this end, it plans to build geographic information on administrative districts from 1910 this year and, by receiving map data from the 1960s to 1970s from the National Geographic Information Institute, establish geographic information on administrative districts in South Korea during the 1970s.

Through this agreement, the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University will widely promote the value of old maps in its collection, such as the cultural heritage Daedong Yeojido, and devote its efforts to the academic and public use of Kyujanggak’s old maps through digitization. Kyujanggak preserves and manages approximately 300,000 items, including national treasures, treasures, and world documentary heritage.

Sagong Hosang, Director of the National Geographic Information Institute, said, “Through this agreement, people will be able to experience vivid daily life details such as population and total households in late Joseon shown on the 19th-century Daedong Yeojido, as well as information on the sites of the March 1st Movement.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.