Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) and

Joseon Wangjo Uigwe (The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty),

the quintessence of the documentary heritage of the Joseon Dynasty, return to Odaesan Mountain.

 - Opening of theNational Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,

which keeps and exhibits the Odaesan Edition of the Annals (Nov. 12)

/ Opening Ceremony (Nov. 11)

On November 12, 2023, the CHA National Palace Museum of Korea (Acting director Noh Myeong-gu) will open the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (hereinafter referred to as “the Museum,” at 176, Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun),whichpreserves and exhibits the original copies of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (hereinafter referred to as “the Annals”) and the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty (hereinafter referred to as “the Royal Protocols”). The Annals and the Royal Protocols were taken out of the country during the Japanese colonial era and were later returned to Korea, before finally being returned to their original home at Odaesan Mountain in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.
The celebratory opening ceremony will take place on November 11 at 2:00 p.m.

* Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty): The Annals arethe official chronological records of 472years of the Joseon Dynasty,ranging from the reign of King Taejo, Joseon’s first monarch, to King Cheoljong, its twenty-fifth ruler. TheAnnalswere designated as a National Treasure in 1973, 2007, and 2019.
* Joseon Wangjo Uigwe (The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty):The Royal Protocols are officialbooks that explainand record the preparation, implementation, and post-performance procedures of royal and state events and ceremonies of the Joseon dynasty. They were designated as a Treasure in 2016.

Since their return to Korea, the Annals and the Royal Protocols have been kept at the National Palace Museum of Korea.However,due to local residents’ long-cherished desire to have them returned to their original home at Odaesan Mountain, they will henceforth be kept and managed at the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. The new museum building (a two-story structure with a total area of 3,537 ㎡) has been established by renovating the Wangjo Sillok Uigwe Museum, which previously was run by the Woljeongsa Museum.
* Wangjo Sillok Uigwe Museum: Run by the Woljeongsa Museum at Odaesan Mountain, which displayed photographic editions of the Annals and the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty.

The Annals and Royal Protocols, which were kept at the Odaesan History Archiveduring the Joseon period, are both invaluablecultural heritages and the quintessence of the documentary heritage of the Joseon Dynasty. All volumes of the Annals and some volumes of the Royal Protocols were taken to Japan during the Japanese colonial era,but thanks to the tireless efforts of the private sector, Buddhist organizations, and the government, they were returned to Korea in 2006, 2017 (the Annals), and 2011 (the Royal Protocols). At present, the Odaesan Edition of the Annals consists of 75 books,while the returned Royal Protocols consist of 82 books.

The newly founded museum will become the only place to display the original copy of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty as well as the original Odaesan edition of the Royal Protocols. The Museum consists of various spaces including, a permanent exhibition hall, a special exhibition hall, a storage facility, and an immersivetype of theater.The Museum will conserve and exhibit its collection of 1,207 artifacts.

The permanent exhibition hall will be the first part of the museum to be opened to the public on November 12. It consists of three exhibition hallsdesigned to explain the Odaesan History Archive, which was a local archive of the late Joseon period; the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the main royal records of Joseon, which were kept at the Odaesan History Archive; and the publication and duplication of the Royal Protocols. In addition, the exhibition invites the public to reflect on the importance and meaning of the return of theseinvaluable cultural heritages, which were taken from the country, and to understandthe wider cultural significance of theirreturn journey to their original home at Odaesan Mountain after an absence of 110 years.

▲ Exhibition Hall 1“The Odaesan History ArchivePreserve the History of the Joseon Dynasty Deep within aMountain” focuses on the production and storage of the documentary records of the Joseon Dynasty, the history of local Archive, and thesocial position and operation of the Odaesan History Archive. It also exhibits the “Sillokgak” and “Seonwonbogak” signboardsthat were originally hung at the hall of the local archive and shows various media materials related to the Odaesan History Archive, including videos, pictures, and maps.

▲ Exhibition Hall 2 “The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Preservethe Nation’s History” explains the publication process of the Annals, which were recorded for 472 years from the reign of King Taejo to that of King Cheoljong, by providing glimpses intoThe Annals of King Seongjong, The Annals of King Jungjong, The Annals of King Seonjo, and The Annals of King Hyojong, all of which were kept in the Odaesan History Archive. The Odaesan Edition of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were takenby Japanese to the University of Tokyo in 1913, and werenot returned to Korea until 1932, 2006, and 2017. Among them, The Annals of King Seongjong and The Annals of King Jungjong are the only ones for which final proofread prints were enshrined, rather than the original copies. In order to compare them, the original copy of the Jeongjoksan Archive, which is now kept at Seoul National University’s Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, is displayed to show the intermediate publication process and proofreading code system of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.

▲ Exhibition Hall 3 “The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty Set theExamples To Be Followedby the Dynasty” presents general information about the publication and duplication of the Royal Protocols, which included explanations of and reports on the ceremonies of the Joseon Dynasty, and also displays King Yeongjo’s Temple Titling Directorate, The Royal Seal Protocols, and The Royal Protocol for the Gyeongungung Palace Reconstruction Directorate,all of which were kept at the Odaesan History Archive. It also exhibits the Yuseojibo, the seal printed on the Royal Protocols, and the Yeonhwadaemu uigwedoseolpan, the illustrations of the printed Royal Protocols. In addition, it introduces the lives of Kings Taejo, Cheoljong, and Gojong through displays of the related artifacts together with The Royal Protocols of King Cheoljong’s National Funeral Directorate and The Royal Protocols of Great National Ceremonies, which were previously kept at theOdaesan History Archive.

Furthermore, the Museum Lobby displays photos and videos showing the history of theremoval to Japan of the Odaesan Edition of the Annals and the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty and their return to Korea, emphasizing the profound importance of retrieving our lost cultural heritages.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will continue striving to become a fully integrated research institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the Annals and the Royal Protocols, which, though they are the ultimate documentary heritages of the Joseon Dynasty, are currently kept by different organizations, and to serve as aregional cultural center that conducts active studies and research projects and offersa variety of exhibitions andeducational programs.

The Museum will hold a record relocation parade and celebratory event on November 10 (the day before its opening), followed by the opening ceremony andvarious regional events, including the Goyuje Ritual,on November 11.The museum will also offer a special souvenir to 100 visitors on November 12.
* Record relocation parade: A reenactment of the transfer of the redeemed Annals and Royal Protocols to Odaesan Mountain.

Opening Hours: The Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. between November and April, and from 9.30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. between May and October. The Museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Admission: Free of charge.
Detailed information on the opening hours of the museum and other matters is available on the CHA website (https://cha.go.kr), the National Palace Museum of Korea’s website (https://www.gogung.go.kr/), and the YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@gogungmuseum).

The new National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty has been founded with the aim of stimulatingpublic interest in Korea’s documentary heritages and redeemed cultural heritages. As part of its active administration, the CHA will endeavor to attract more people to the museum by organizing various exhibitions and international exchange programs.

Attachment
1. Overview of the facilities of the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and its establishment.
2. Panoramic photo of the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon.
3. Introduction of major exhibits.
4. Poster image.