Korean Studies Advanced Guide

Korean Old and Rare Collection Information System (KORCIS) services 402,938 bibliography data and 53,000 original text images received from 133 institutions including the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies and the Harvard–Yenching Library.

A database on literature, linguistics, history, geography, and geology.

Provides audio material related to Korean history, as well as ancient documents.

Japanese Government General of Korea Online Sources

A digital version of Jiam's Diary.

A database of the Joseon wangjo sillok by the National Taiwan University.

The documents on Korea published before 1945 that are housed at National Library of Korea have mostly been written in Japanese by the Japanese people and printed after an inspection by the Japanese Government-General of Korea. Accordingly, while these materials reflect the biased interests and perspectives of the people of Japan, who colonized and governed over Korea at the time, they still serve as valuable resources that provide insight into pre-liberation Korean society.

This is a digital collection of archives in Kyujanggak.

Japanese Government General of Korea Online Sources

Provides records and minutes about the dialogues between South Korea and North Korea

This collection provides bibliographic information and 165,010 original images of 310,834 government publications published by organizations at each level from 1953 to 2020. In Korean.

The history of Korean magazines can be classified into two general time periods, that of before and after liberation from Japan on August 15, 1945, also known as Liberation Day. This collection covers the first editions of Korean magazines published before Liberation Day, which itself can be subdivided into four time periods: the embryonic period (1896-1909), the military government period (1910-1919), the period of cultural politics (1920-1936), and the Japanese propaganda period (1937-1945).

A database of Seungjeongwon ilgi by the National Taiwan University.

The Joseon wangjo sillok (朝鮮王朝實錄 Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty) includes 28 different sets of chronological records, and each set covers one ruler's reign. It was compiled immediately after the death of the ruler in question. As such, the Veritable Records are not the typical history planned and written by a specific individual or team of individuals. The collection covers the reigns of 25 rulers, from King Taejo to King Cheoljong, and spans a period of 472 years.

This digital archive contains several historical documents related to Asia. Examples are: “LOCAL NATIONALISM" IN XINJIANG, 1957-1958," "1988 SEOUL OLYMPIC GAMES," "CHINA AND AFRICA," and "JAPANESE NUCLEAR HISTORY."

On this page, you will find digitized versions of Chinese, Japanese and Korean printings and manuscripts (dating back to the 7th – 19th century) which are held by the Bavarian State Library (BSB). You can access about 2 million single images.

Provides sources translated into Korean which are written in Chinese. Provides sources with Korean translation, Chinese texts, and original images.

A searchable online catalog with millions of digitized items to browse, including photos, maps and books, from libraries, archives, museums, and cultural institutions around the United States.

Archival materials from the National Library of Korea and the National Diet Library of Japan, including materials on religion, gender, religion, politics and international relations, artistic works, literature, and novels. In Japanese and Korean.

Korean rare books that have been digitized are available online via Harvard-Yenching Library digitized version of Korean Rare Books.

The Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies was established through the combination of the Kyujanggak Archives and the Institute of Korean Studies. Through the preservation, organization, and examination of the materials at the Kyujanggak, the institute focuses on the research of Korean history and culture. The main time period is from the end of the Joseon Dynasty to the beginning of modern times but they also work on expanding our scope of research from materials of the medieval times to post modern times.

The Rare Material Collection of National Library of Korea is divided into Antiquarian Books, Antiquarian Documents, Books, Documents, Serial Publications, Maps and National Treasures & Treasures, etc.

"Ttakjibon novels” was the nickname for guhwaljabon novels. There are several theories over the origin of the name "ttakjibon”. The most widely accepted theory is that because most guhwaljabon novels had colorful book covers, the name was taken from the word "ttakji" (딱지), which were colorful cards used in a Korean children’s game. Ttakjibon novels played a crucial role in the popularization and modernization of reading. Tens of thousands of ttakjibon novels were sold every year in the 1920’s and 1930’s, so they became very well-known throughout Korea.

Online open access dictionary

LTI Korea Library provide translated Korean literatures whose copyright has been expired such as "20th Century Korean Literature Series." Free individual account required.

Online version of Han'guk minjok munhwa tae sajon, the most frequently used encyclopedia on Korean Studies.

Provides encyclopedia of Korean culture by category, type and chronology.

『Encyclopedia of Korean Abuse』 is a collection of 10 specialized fields including geography/archeology, politics/system, society/economics, religion/ideology/education, folklore/legends, language and literature, culture/art, science and technology, bibliography, and figures with Korean characteristics. It is a comprehensive dictionary of Korean studies. It contains a total of 15,000 carefully selected items, covering all major issues related to Korea, as well as enumerating the source and bibliography for each item included, serving as a guide for each field of study.