Digital Preservation and Access Strategy for Hangeul Resources at the National Hangeul Museum Archives

Abstract

This paper presents the National Hangeul Museum's (NHM) digital preservation and contextualization initiative conducted from 2015 to 2024. The project focused on high-resolution digitization of Hangeul-related cultural materials-such as manuscripts, rare books, correspondence, and early publications-and enriched them with expert interpretation and transcription. A structured digital archive was developed to provide thematic access and advanced search capabilities. Case studies, including handwritten letters, early Korean Braille documents, and the full digitization of the 1920s children's magazine Eorini, demonstrate how historical narratives were reconstructed and made accessible to both researchers and the general public. The digitized content has been actively used in exhibitions and educational programs, enhancing public engagement while minimizing handling of fragile originals. Future directions include archive expansion, integration of AI technologies, and development of collaborative and interactive features. This work offers a model of museum-led digital heritage preservation aligned with international best practices.