Korea enjoyed a splendid flourish in the sphere of archives in its ancient times. Entering the modern era of archival management about ten years ago, the nation began to experience numerous changes due to the introduction of a newborn western discipli...
Korea enjoyed a splendid flourish in the sphere of archives in its ancient times. Entering the modern era of archival management about ten years ago, the nation began to experience numerous changes due to the introduction of a newborn western discipline, called archival science. Owing largely to the advent and development of archival science, the incumbent generation acknowledged the importance of preserving historically significant records for future generations. In addition, the legal foundation was successfully laid with the establishment of Public Records Act and Presidential Records Act.
These efforts have contributed to the advancement of not only paper documents but also other various forms of records. More notably, archival artifacts, that had been left unattended in storages of public institutions or unfortunately removed from its land due to social indifference, began to receive attentions they should deserve. A systematic and efficient management system is currently being employed for these archival artifacts.
This paper focuses on the importance of archival artifacts of presidential library, one of presidential records. Presidential record is the core of a nation's history. At the same time, it is precious public asset and national legacy. In this context, this paper discerns the concept, value and importance of archival artifacts as records. Moreover, this paper analyzes characteristics of archival artifacts of presidential library. To suggest an effective management system for archival artifacts of presidential library in presidential library, this paper attempts to draw implications and find benchmarkable prerequisites in North Korea and the US cases.
The section 4 of this paper scrutinizes the current status and problems of the management system regarding archival artifacts of presidential library of Korea. Furthered from this, a desirable management process for archival artifacts of presidential library is designed. The very chapter also includes recommendations for establishment of a management system for archival artifacts of presidential library. The management process for archival artifacts of presidential library suggested in this paper consists of detailed measures by stage from classification scheme to transfer, acquisition, registration, description, preservation, utilization, appraisal and destruction or disposal.
In Korea, archival artifacts of presidential library used to be in the custody of another institution. They were later transferred to the presidential library. However, the presidential library does not take further responsibility of the records other than safekeeping. In other words, a subsequent process after transfer of records has not yet been systematized. The presidential library currently does not possess a specific management system for presidential records. Against this backdrop, this paper was stimulated to propose the management process for archival artifacts of presidential library in presidential library.
It should be noted that there is no manifest guidance for a record management of presidential artifacts. Therefore, this paper has not been able to follow any manual in order to establish a management system for presidential records. This paper can be referred as a preliminary data to establish a more concrete management program for presidential artifacts. Some parts of such program can be applied to the concerned fields of both public and private sectors. This paper is convincing in a sense that it elucidates the concept, value and significance of archival artifacts in Korea where the attention of related studies is scarce.
However, this paper bears a couple of limitations. Most of all, the data used in the case studies are secondary due to a slim budgetary appropriation. Moreover, because this paper comprehensively deals with presidential records management in a broad scope and range, the paper fails to illustrate the results of the analysis in more detailed manner. It is expected that these limitations to be supplemented in the subsequent studies.