Since the enactment of the Public Records Act in 1999, archives in Korea have been recognized as a physical data repository for administrative records produced based on the work of public institutions. However, as more paper records have been converte...
Since the enactment of the Public Records Act in 1999, archives in Korea have been recognized as a physical data repository for administrative records produced based on the work of public institutions. However, as more paper records have been converted to an electronic format recently, it is necessary to utilize a logical approach instead of preferring records on paper. Accordingly, this study seeks to incorporate the online photo archives of public institutions in the realm of social welfare, converting the "value of information" found in photographs into "the value of recollection" that would enable senior citizens to reminisce about the key moments of their lives. In addition to offering the images required for reminiscence therapy, by encouraging elderly people to share their old personal photos, this research endeavors to present an online photo archive platform where older adults as well as various generations can communicate via images. Reminiscence therapy, as one of the methods that can prevent depression and early dementia, helps individuals recall meaningful memories that took place during their lifespan development process, and this therapy can result in self-integration to restore self-esteem as well as to stimulate cognitive function by allowing them to reflect on the psychological condition at those moments. In particular, in the case of reminiscence therapy combined with the use of photos, its effect has already been demonstrated through a number of domestic and external studies.
To verify the above statement, this paper went through the following process. First, this study analyzed writing examples of photographic autobiography that had previously been conducted with the elderly. This included analyzing the relevant keywords collected from personal photographs that senior people had selected by life stage when they were organizing their life events, and it also involved categorizing the photos by type according to the lifespan development proposed in psychology.
Second, the present study identified the status of photo archives in public institutions. Examining the photo records that are offered online by the Seoul Metropolitan Archives and the National Archives of Korea showed that the images were categorized by age and topic beneficial for recollection, and this paper analyzed images that would easily bring back memories afterward.
Third, based on the above processes, by comparing as well as contrasting personal photographs and photo records of public institutions to match similar images, this study held workshops to ensure that public photo records could evoke past memories for senior people when used in place of personal images.
Last, predicated on the analysis of survey responses and other earlier studies, the types of photo records of public institutions that can aid the recollection process of the elderly were identified as part of this study, and building on such an effort, the establishment of an online archive platform that can be connected to the photo link of the National Archives of Korea, which operates an open API, has been proposed.
As suggested in this paper, the aim of utilizing public photo archives, which only had values as a record, as a social welfare tool was to connect citizens in various areas and reduce social costs through such connections. As a matter of fact, in 2020, Korea has become a super-aged society, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the Fourth Dementia Plan and presented "proactive dementia management centered on prevention" as a major task. If converting the use of archives can prevent dementia in an aging society, the role expansion of archivists as well as archives will become a reality, and it will promote the utilization of such useful records in public as well. Building on such confidence, this paper attempted to propose a practical methodology. It is expected that this study will function as relevant as well as a significant case study.