• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.49-72
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• 2021

Based on the analysis of the NDL authority system, this study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of subject authorities related to Korea in the NDL. The results are as follows. First, NDL subject authorities related to Korea are 3,143 in total including 2,205 headings and 938 subdivisions. Among them, social sciences accounted for more than half with 52.4%, and economics by individual discipline accounted for the most with 552 cases, 17.6%. Second, most of the subject headings of historical events caused by or directly related to Japan are described from the Japanese perspective, and terms familiar to Korea are mainly described in reference, not in heading. Third, subject headings representing Korean characteristics or historical events are considerably lacking or nondescript. Forth, when referring the name of the country, the term 'Joseon (朝鮮)' continues to be used to refer to both South and North Korea; however, it is necessary to subdivide the history after 1948 which includes the era of the 'Republic of Korea' and the 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea'. Using the term Joseon to refer North and South Korea may cause the reader to perceive Korea as persisting in the Joseon Dynasty. Furthermore, while 'Balhae (渤海)' is regarded as Chinese history, it is a part of Korean history and should be added to the Korean historical periods.