Youngsan Seonhak University Donates 1,700 Antique Books Including 'Haedongakbu' to National Library of Korea

National Library of Korea's "Free Antique Book Consultation" Service Available
Guidance on Donating Materials to National Institutions When Management Is Difficult

The National Library of Korea announced on October 30 that it had received a donation of over 1,700 volumes of antique books and modern literature from Youngsan Seonhak University on October 28.

'Haedongakbu'. Provided by the National Library of Korea

The donated materials include 1,300 rare antique books, such as the 'Haedongakbu,' a collection of classical Chinese poems about Korean history written by Sim Gwangse in 1617, and 400 modern religious texts, including the 'Jonggyo Gangjwa Gangbon' published in 1931.

This donation was made after Youngsan Seonhak University applied for the 'Free Antique Book Consultation' service through the National Library of Korea's website in March. During the process, the National Library of Korea explained the value of the materials and provided guidance on preservation methods, noting that if management becomes difficult, donating to a national institution allows for permanent preservation and use. This naturally led to discussions about donation. The university held an operations committee meeting in August and decided to proceed with the donation.

Hyun Hyewon, Head of the Antique Books Division at the National Library of Korea, stated, "The donated materials will undergo preservation treatment, detailed cataloging, and digitization so that researchers and the public can make full use of them. We will continue to actively identify antique books that are difficult to manage and preserve and utilize them as valuable cultural heritage records."

Meanwhile, since 2016, the National Library of Korea has operated the 'Free Antique Book Consultation Service' to address questions about antique books and to raise awareness of documentary cultural heritage. Consultations can be requested through the notices on the National Library of Korea's website.

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