Over 640,000 Records of the 19th Presidential Archives Released

4.92 Million Web Records Including Websites and Social Network Services Also Provided

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Presidential Archives of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 10th that it has made public approximately 640,000 general record listings and 4.92 million web records among the 11.16 million 19th presidential records transferred by May 9 of last year through the Presidential Archives website.

The materials being released this time include about 5.56 million items such as approximately 640,000 general documents (electronic and non-electronic), audiovisual records, gifts, and administrative artifacts transferred from 30 presidential record-producing institutions of the Moon Jae-in administration, as well as 4.92 million web records.

The general record listings (about 640,000 items) mostly consist of general document listings produced by 30 committees including the Presidential Secretariat, the Committee on Jobs, and the Policy Planning Committee.

Additionally, the listings include 4,244 items of presidential gifts and administrative artifacts such as books, paintings, coins, dolls, and ceramics received from heads of state and key figures of various countries, as well as 2,863 audiovisual records such as digital photos and videos related to presidential events that have been organized and registered.

Along with this, a total of 4.92 million web records are provided, including 50 types of websites and 69 types of social network services (Facebook, Instagram, blogs, etc.) produced during the Moon Jae-in administration.

Besides the 19th presidential record listings, the Presidential Archives also produces and services content based on original presidential records such as inauguration ceremonies, speech records, schedules, and special meetings.

However, among the 19th presidential record listings released this time, 390,000 presidential-designated records restricted from viewing under relevant laws and 3.22 million administrative information data sets (10 types) produced only as data, unlike general records, totaling 3.61 million records, were excluded from the release. Other records, such as audiovisual records (about 1.99 million items) including digital photo files and video files, will be disclosed after additional procedures such as preservation target selection (duplicate removal).

Meanwhile, the Presidential Archives has significantly enhanced user convenience by improving the record viewing methods on the Presidential Records Portal. It has improved the integrated search function and newly developed detailed information pages for the year and construction of searched records. Based on this, it plans to expand original information disclosure starting this year. In addition, it has developed functions for sharing and downloading original presidential records on social network services and removed identification marks (watermarks) to make it easier for users to utilize presidential records.

Ko Eung-seok, Head of the Record Service Division at the Presidential Archives, stated, “We hope that the release of the 19th presidential record listings will increase public interest in presidential records and make information disclosure requests easier. We will continue to strive to greatly expand the disclosure of original documents to guarantee the public’s right to know.”