Joseon Wangjo Sillok is a chronological record in 1,717 volumes of the history of the Joseon Dynasty from the reign of King Taejo, the founder and first king of the dynasty, to that of King Cheoljong, the 25th king (1392 – 1863/472 years). To protect them from disaster, separate copies of the annals were kept at five different archives across the country, including Chunchugwan Hall in Seoul, an archive at Jeongjoksan Mountain on Ganghwado Island, one at Taebaeksan Mountain in Bonghwa, one at Odaesan Mountain in Pyeongchang, and one at Jeoksangsan Mountain in Muju.
Bongmodang Hall is one of the ancillary buildings of the Gyujanggak library built during the reign of King Jeongjo (r. 1776 - 1800) to store the kings’ writings and other materials related to the royal family, such as Seonwonrok and Gukjobogam . The copy of the Joseon wangjo sillok kept at Bongmodang Hall consists of six volumes of appendixes of the records currently kept at the Jangseogak of the Academy of Korean Studies. The cover of each of the six volumes contains a stamped impression reading “Bongmodang”, which constitutes clear proof that a copy specially produced for the king was kept at Bongmodang Hall, which was situated in the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace during the late Joseon period. As such, it is regarded as a highly significant material related to Joseon Wangjo Sillok.