A Study on the History of Korea's Modern Library - with Special Reference to the Establishment of Modern Libraries and its Characteristics in the Opening Period. -

근대한국도서관사 연구 - 개화기의 근대도서관 성립과 그 성격을 중심으로 -

The purpose of this study is to investigate the general characteristics of modem library which was in a germinal stage at the opening period of Korea. The major findings of this study is summarized as follows. 1. Modern libraries which began to develop during the opening period of Korea were deeply rooted in the spirit of patriotism. After 1905, which was the year of so-called Korean-Japanese Protocal concluded under the Japanese military pressure, the patriotic enlightenment campaign against foreign penetration developed rapidly throughout the country. Accordingly, the movement for establishing modern library was carried out among advanced reformers. 2. The first modern school library was built in the private school of Wonan established by the residents of Wonsan area. They believed that the best way to strengthen the national power to oppose Japanese penetration was to learn the Western culture and technology. 3. The first modern public library named The Central Library of Korea was originated by Oh Ha Young and his comrade in 1906. Included among these promoters of the library were Yun Chi Ho and Min Sang Ho, two persons who had experienced Western culture during their study abroad. 4. Pakmunkuk, the newspaper office of the government, had its own library in 1883 which was the first modernized special library in Korea. 5. Major factors which hindered the rapid growth modern libraries m the opening period are as follows; (1) Lack of people's demand fer the library. (2) Limited scope of the publications(mainly school text-books) (3) Poor financial conditions. 6. Japanese invasion in 1910 had broken the growing roots of modern libraries in formative stage.