National Library of Korea Installs 'Lee Jong-han Director's Personal Library'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] On the 27th, the National Library of Korea held a donation ceremony for a personal library at Munhwa Maru (2nd floor of the main building), consisting of 457 drama storyboard scripts, 351 VHS/DVD items, and 383 pamphlets and posters collected by drama director Lee Jong-han.

The personal library materials are extremely rare, as they include storyboard scripts directly annotated by the director for SBS productions such as Toji and Yeon Gaesomun. The personal library is named the "Lee Jong-han Library" after him. All 457 scripts are now accessible at the National Library of Korea.

Lee Jong-han has worked as a director in theater, TV dramas, and films for 40 years. He began directing TV dramas at KBS with the legendary hometown series "Hwashin" and gained recognition with "Wanglung Ilga." As a founding member of SBS, he reflected on nature and humanity through literary dramas such as "Bunryegi" and "Gwanchon Supil," and directed a total of 38 TV dramas across different eras, including major works like "Yeon Gaesomun," "Toji," and "Hwaryeohan Sijeol," which contemplate our lives through time.

"Guhari's War" and "You Are This World" were recognized for their artistic value at international film festivals. Notably, "The Amnok River Flows" was co-produced with Germany's BR Broadcasting and was the first Korean drama aired in Europe; it was also re-edited into a film and released in theaters. Additionally, he directed numerous plays such as "Death of a Salesman" and "The Golden Pond."

The director of the National Library of Korea stated, “We hope that aspiring drama directors and writers can build their skills and realize their dreams by studying the scripts of a master at the National Library of Korea.”

The National Library of Korea encourages a culture of donation every year to discover uncollected materials, preserving valuable resources as national knowledge information assets, and utilizing and providing them as research materials.