Out of the word Doryanghyeong, ‘Do(度)’ means ‘the instruments measuring length’; ‘Ryang(量)’ means ‘the instruments measuring volume’; and ‘Hyeong(衡)’ means ‘the instruments measuring weight.’ These are the important criteria in the human beings’ common life and are given a great emphasis from the ancient society.
The modernization of Korean measuring instruments began in 1902 (6th Year of the reign of Gwangmu) at the same time of Pyeongsikwon’s establishment by introducing the metric system along with the measuring regulations.
The first metric system has been preserved at the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. These are the officially approved instruments from the age of Korean Empire to Japanese Occupation. These are the representative cultural assets showing the modern history and society then Korea.