[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Congressman Lee Byung-hoon (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul) stated on the 25th that the currently designated local cultural asset, the "Goryeosa," is fully qualified to be designated as a national treasure.
The Goryeosa, one of the two major official histories (Jeongsa) of Korea, is currently under review by the Cultural Heritage Administration for designation as a national treasure.
It is not yet a national treasure, and among the four extant editions, only the copy held by Dong-A University is designated as a local cultural asset.
The Goryeosa was applied for promotion to a nationally designated cultural asset (treasure) in August 2018, but the Cultural Heritage Administration only conducted an on-site investigation two years later, on the 5th of this month.
To designate the Goryeosa as a national treasure, investigations have been completed on the Eulhaeja edition and the reprinted edition held respectively by the Kyujanggak at Seoul National University and the Seokdang Museum at Dong-A University, among the four extant editions.
After the third designation investigation of the reprinted edition held by Yonsei University is completed in November this year, the designation decision is expected to be made following a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.
Congressman Lee said, "Personal diaries of Joseon Dynasty officials (Treasure No. 261, Chungjae Diary) and documents of specific families (Treasure No. 1203, Oun Family Documents) have also been designated as treasures, so it is very regrettable that the Goryeosa, a biographical history compiled by King Sejong’s edict and containing 139 volumes covering the entire history of Goryeo, remains only a local cultural asset," adding, "I hope that the review for national treasure designation will provide an opportunity for the history of the Goryeo period to be reappraised."
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