Busan is good

Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum and Gyeongsangnam-do Archives Join Hands to Revitalize Record Culture in the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Region

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Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum (Director Kim Gi-yong) and Gyeongsangnam-do Archives (Director Kim Il-su) announced that they will establish a cooperative framework to systematically preserve and jointly utilize modern and contemporary historical assets of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (hereinafter referred to as the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region).

This agreement was initiated as both institutions, specializing in the management of modern and contemporary history, joined forces to maximize the value of their archival holdings and to build a mutually beneficial model that helps bridge regional gaps in record culture.

The two institutions agreed to share their expertise in records management beyond administrative boundaries and to pursue the common goal of providing citizens with rich historical content. In particular, as this collaboration brings together metropolitan-level institutions responsible for preserving and utilizing regional archival assets, it is expected to further enhance both institutions’ professionalism in records management and utilization.

Through this agreement, the two institutions pledged close cooperation throughout the entire process, from the discovery and digitization of archival materials to their joint utilization.

[Cooperation and Joint Utilization] The two institutions will collaborate in discovering, organizing, and digitizing archival materials and will actively promote their joint use in research, exhibitions, and educational programs based on these resources.

[Sharing of Project Outcomes] The results of joint projects may be freely utilized by both institutions, while specific matters such as copyright will be determined through separate consultation.

[Promotion of Mutual Development] Even for matters not explicitly specified in the agreement, if deemed necessary for the preservation and utilization of modern and contemporary historical assets, the two institutions will promote joint projects through mutual consultation.

As the first example of cooperation under this agreement, the institutions will jointly carry out a digitization project for the “Records from the Tenure of Former Administrator Yoon Hee-yoon,” valuable historical materials documenting the administrative history of the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region from the 1970s to the 1990s.

This project will focus on approximately 4,300 photographs taken during the tenure of former administrator Yoon Hee-yoon, who began his service as County Governor of Geochang in 1973 and subsequently served in various positions, including Mayor of Ulsan, until 1992. These materials comprehensively document county, provincial, and municipal administration in Gyeongnam from the 1970s through the 1990s, and are highly regarded not only for their administrative historical value but also for their significance in regional and cultural history.

In this collaboration, Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum will provide the original materials acquired through a donation in 2025, while Gyeongsangnam-do Archives will deploy professional equipment and personnel to conduct high-resolution digital conversion. This initiative is expected to serve as an efficient model for organizing and utilizing archival materials by combining the strengths of both institutions.

Through this cooperation, valuable records previously dispersed across Busan and Gyeongnam will be reborn as modern archival assets and presented to citizens of both regions.

In addition to the materials related to former Mayor Yoon Hee-yoon, the two institutions plan to continuously discover and convert into digital data historical materials documenting regional politics, administration, and everyday life. The established archives will be utilized in exhibitions, education, and academic research, thereby enhancing the public value of these records.

This initiative is expected to overcome the limitations of individual institutional collections and lay the groundwork for producing integrated content that organically connects the histories of Busan and Gyeongnam. By linking fragmentary records into a unified context, citizens will be able to experience a more coherent and structured flow of regional history.

The two institutions will maintain an ongoing cooperative relationship to ensure that this agreement leads to substantive working-level exchanges and will continue discussions on all necessary matters related to the preservation and utilization of record culture in the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region.

Kim Gi-yong, Director of Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, stated, “This meeting will serve as a valuable opportunity for both institutions to jointly demonstrate the significance of modern and contemporary records in the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region. Based on our strong partnership with Gyeongsangnam-do Archives, we will convey the spirit of the times embedded in these records to our citizens and open a new horizon for regional archives together.”