• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.35
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• pp.3-40
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• 2013

Establishment and expansion of a FOI regime is a fundamental basis for modern democracy. Informed decisions and supports by the people are critical to establishment of democratic institutions and policies. The best tool to make informed decisions and to ensure accountability is the FOI. For effective FOI, good records management is necessary requirement. This paper observes and analyses the development of the FOI in the U.S., the Open Government policy, and the government records management reforms under Obama Administration to search viable solutions for Korean FOI and public records management reforms. Major revisions and advancement of the FOIA in the United States are examined, especially the revision of the FOIA as the OPEN Government Act of 2007. The FOIA revision enhanced greatly the freedom of information in the U.S. including the establishment of an independent FOI ombudsman by the Congress. The paper also discusses the Presidential memoranda on the Open Government and the FOI by President Obama, the following directives, Presidential memorandum on government records management and the Government Records Management Directive. Major contents of the directives, plans, and achievement are summarized and analysed. Finally, this paper compares the government records management reforms under former President Roh Mu Hyun with the Obama's reform drive. The comparison found that major difference in the "top-down" government records reforms are the difference in democratic institutions such as weak congressional politics, strong bureaucratic obstacles, and relatively weak social and professional supports for the reforms in Korea, while these reforms were similar in terms that they were driven by insightful political leaders. Independent FOI ombudsman and national records administration are necessary for such democratic reforms.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.13
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• pp.3-40
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• 2006

The archives and records management 'reform' has spreaded out through the third quarter of 2004. There are many evidences such as the change of the Office of the President's management on the record production, 'the reforming road map for the final draft on the archives and records management.' This method spreads into the Cabinets. So it is improved these rosy conditions was upgraded by the laws and regulations. We also hope that the conditions of the records management to be a higher level than before. However the actual conditions of the records management are not good comparing with the law and regulations. I think this unbalance is a serious problem. The reason of the 'failed history' during past time was caused not by the laws itself but by the indifference and negligence on the laws. The academic field and NGO have continuously required some essential suggestions on that problem; political neutrality and independent of the National Archives, the employment of specialists and the improvement of their skills etc. But these requirements have not accepted yet. This revised records management law also has not applied to the road map wholly. Even though the outward growth during that time is remarkable, we need to learn some instructions by way of the 'failed history'. Therefore our urgent task is to narrow the gap between the new system and the actual conditions based on long and short term projects.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.21
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• pp.283-322
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• 2009

Legislation and enforcement of the Presidential Records Management Law was an important turning point in Korean archival management history. In the past, the notion of presidential records was vague. The law was a starting point of establishing presidential records management. The Presidential Records Management Law provides the definition of presidential records and its scope, and establishes the protection of presidential records through restricted access to the records. The key to the law is to enable a president freely to produce records and transfer them to the next administration without omission. In other words, it aims to stop the practice that presidential records are produced but never be left. But, 'disputes over the release of presidential records' and the disclosing of access-restricted presidential records presented a crisis to national records management as well as the prospect of presidential records management, even if they were 'legal procedures.' The instability of presidential records management could give a serious impact on the national records management and its operation. Amid this situation, it is required to review the presidential records management system and provide recommendations for improvement, even if the enforcement of law has just started. The most urgent things in improving presidential records management are to secure its independence, specialty, and to complement restricted access to presidential records. For securing independency, presidential records management should be done by a separate organization other than the National Archives of Korea while for promoting specialty, a newly established organization could serve as a professional archive. And for complementing restricted access to the presidential records, the access should be more limited. In other words, more discretion is needed in permitting access. And more specific regulations should be applied to the permitted records. However, these regulatory actions may not have effects unless independency is not secured. Thus, more fundamentally, independency of the National Archives of Korea should be first established.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.34
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• pp.221-250
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• 2012

This paper introduces the characteristics of the records and archives management of Korea from Joseon dynasty to now. This paper also explains historical background of making the records and archives management in Joseon dynasty. This paper introduces the process of establishment of modern records management system by adopting records management system and public administration of USA after liberation in 1945. The Joseon bureaucrats established systematic methodologies for managing and arranging the records. Jeseon dynasty managed its records systematically since it was a bureaucratic regime. It is also noticeable that the famous Joseonwangjosilrok(Annals of Joseon dynasty) came out of the power struggles for the control of the national affairs between the king and the nobility during the time of establishment of the dynasty. Another noticeable feature of the records tradition in Joseon dynasty was that the nobility recorded their experience and allowed future generations use and refer their experiences and examples when they performed similar business. The records of Joseon period are the historical records which recorded contemporary incidents and the compilers expected the future historians evaluate the incidents they recorded. In 1894, the reformation policy of Gaboh governments changed society into modernity. The policy of Gaboh governments prescribed archive management process through 'Regulation(命令頒布式)'. They revised the form of official documents entirely. They changed a name of an era from Chinese to unique style of Korean, and changed original Chinese into Korean or Korean-Chinese together. Also, instead of a blank sheet of paper they used printed paper to print the name of each office. Korea was liberated from Japanese Imperialism in 1945 and the government of Republic of Korea was established in 1948. In 1950s Republic of Korea used the records management system of the Government-General of Joseon without any alteration. In the late of 1950's Republic of Korea constructed the new records management system by adopting records management system and public administration of USA. However, understanding of records management was scarce, so records and archives management was not accomplished. Consequently, many important records like presidential archives were deserted or destroyed. A period that made the biggest difference on National Records Management System was from 1999 when was enacted. Especially, it was the period of President Roh's five-year tenure called Participation Government (2003-2008). The first distinctive characteristic of Participation Government's records management is that it implemented governance actively. Another remarkable feature is a nomination of records management specialists at public institutions. The Participation Government also legislated (completely revised) . It led to a beginning of developing records management in Republic of Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.32
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• pp.45-78
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• 2012

The significance of Presidential Impeachment in 2004 is subject to interpretations in many different contexts, but its nature as its justice was the constitutional trial by the nation's impeachment system. This study set out to compare and analyze the understanding of the event centered around its nature as "an impeachment event as a public activity" and the records related to it. For that purpose, the study attempted to analyze the impeachment event to understand it as a public activity and examined and analyzed the records of the impeachment event in the public domain through personal visit, phone interview, and request of information disclosure based on the analysis results. An impeachment event as a public activity can be understood as an activity carried out by the National Assembly, which is to issue a motion for impeachment under the norms of the nation's impeachment system, and Constitutional Court, which is responsible for impeachment trial, through their unique rights prescribed in the Constitution. The important subjects of such a public activity included the accused president, the acting presidential system created by the motion for impeachment, and the National Election Commission that provided a decisive ground for impeachment. It was confirmed that the records, which are legal requirements, were well created and have been preserved and managed in the public domain. However, it was difficult to conclude that the records of the impeachment event were thoroughly created in terms of content in relation to affairs as they mainly covered the superficial treatment processes and the results of explicit activities. There was, in particular, the absence of records showing the context of activity.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.46
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• pp.233-286
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• 2015

A Collection Policy provides a direction to an archive, but also provides a foundation for developing practical measures of planning and collecting process. In terms of a Collection Policy, it enables detail collection as regulations or codes cannot be as defined as the level of collection, thus, it allows systematic and strategic approaches in collecting former presidents' records. In the case of United States, where the same presidential system exists as South Korea, although the individual Presidential Libraries and Museums have different periods of collections, the Collection Policy was implement a half century ago that is used as a foundation data for record collection. However, the Presidential Archives in South Korea do not have a Collection Policy implemented that the collection is based on 'collection regulations' and 'collection plans.' In the comparison of the Collection Policy at the Presidential Libraries and Museums in the United States and the "collection regulation" and "collection plan" at the Presidential Archives in South Korea, it shows that while the Presidential Libraries and Museums' Collection Policy applies the characteristics of individual presidents that the collection comprises the records from more than the appointed period that it includes various personal records of relating figures, events, regions, and even personal interest; the records are written in detail to the detailed scale and procedure. On the other hand, the Presidential Archives in South Korea, the records collected based on 'collection regulations' and 'collection plans' do not sufficiently apply the individual features of the former presidents that the collections remain as general and unclear. This is due to the absence of a Collection Policy that systemizes and sustains professionalism and consistency of collection plans and procedures. Hence, this study is conducted to propose collection policy implementation measures by analyzing the Collection Policy of the Presidential Libraries and Museums in the United States and identifying implications for applying individual president characteristics.

• Korea and Global Affairs
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-44
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• 2018

The Buma Uprising, which took place in Busan and Masan from 16 to 20 October 1979, was a challenge against the contradictions of the Yushin Regime. Only after 6 days from the insurrection, the 10 26 Accident transpired, in which the then president Park Chung-hee was assassinated, and the Buma Uprising, which acted as the fuse to the shooting, remained as an 'incomplete uprising'. To commensurate with the subject of the paper 'The Truth about Buma Uprising and Historical Reflection', the purpose of this study is to explore how the uprising began, unfolded, and oppressed by comparing it with Busan Uprising and Masan Uprising. It also focuses to discuss, in detail, the effect of the demonstration by college students and the general public and suppression by the forces of the police and military on President Park and his government. This year, we celebrate the 39th anniversary of Buma Uprising, and with all the issues of discovering the truth, restoration of reputation and more, there are decisions and resolves to make including amendment of the legal system. However, there are certain groups of people who act as they led the uprising and mislead and exploit the facts of the events through illegitimate records and testimony, making it impossible to determine the truth. Discovering the truth will require acquisition of objective materials, testimony of those involved in the event and field research as well as imposition of legal and social punishment on those who distorted the truth about the event.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-66
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• 2002

This paper examines urgent issues of establishing the presidential library in relation to the current standing of the Government Archives and Records Service. As government records have been tremendously accumulated every year, the Government Archives and Records Service will be full within three years, which indicates that the constructing of new storage repositories is an emergent issue. In addition, presidential records are one of the most significant and influential public properties for preserving historical value and interpretation at the national level. Some serious concerns relating to the presidential library are raised for consideration. First of all, it is compulsory to preserve presidential records and to construct the presidential library. Second, the presidential library performs a variety of functions including the acquisition, preservation, access, reference, research, education, and display of presidential records as well as exhibits of public activities and administration personally and in public during the president' regime. A new presidential library should function as both of a depository and museum of presidential records through systematic arrangement and display. Thus a new repository of the Government Archives and Records Service should be co-constructed with the presidential library within the same boundary. Third, a newly constructed presidential library should be at least double- or triple- sized more than estimated in order to contain all related holdings. Fourth, to take custody of public records across the legislature, judiciary and administration, the Government Archives and Records Service should be directed by an official at the level of vice-minister and upgraded to an independent office such as "National Archives and Records Administration." Fifth, the presidential library's location and surrounding environments should be selected with careful planning.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.77
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• pp.37-74
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• 2023

As the Yoon Seok-yeol administration enters its second year in office, it is beginning to vigorously promote policies related to the "digital platform government," which is the 11th of the 120 national tasks. Accordingly, the Digital Platform Government Committee established and reported the 'Digital Platform Government Realization Plan' to the President in April 2023, and the 「Act on Provision and Use of Public Data」 and 「Data An amendment to the Act on the Vitalization of Infrastructure Administration" was submitted to the National Assembly in June 2023. In addition, the 「Regulations on the Promotion of Administrative Efficiency and Collaboration」, which is a Presidential Decree, was revised to 「Regulations on Operation and Innovation of Administrative Affairs」, including the name change, to effectively promote innovation in administrative work, and was completed on June 27, 2023. Therefore, this study aims to examine the trends of public institutions related to the digital platform government as a government task, and discuss whether the recent trends will affect the management of institutional records. Indications to respond to the government's digital platform, which is leading the way, it was emphasized that the operation of the current Medical Records Act is strange.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.29
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• pp.175-223
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• 2011

A university is an organization charged with publicity and has accountability to the community for the operating process. Students account for a majority of members in a university. In universities, numerous creatures are pouring out every year and university students are major producers of these records. However, roles and functions of university students producing enormous amount of records as main agents of universities and focused concentration on produced records have not been made yet. It is reality that from the archival point of view, the importance of produced records of which main agents are university students has been relatively underestimated. In this background, this study attempted approach in archival point of view on records produced by university students, main agents. There are various types of records that university students produce such as records produced in the process of research and teaching as well as records produced in the process of various autonomy activities like clubs, students' associations. This study especially focused on university student autonomy activity process and placed emphasis on accountability securing measures on autonomy activity process of university students. To secure accountability of activities, records management should be based. Therefore, as a way to ensure accountability of unversity students autonomy activity, we tried to present records management systematization and records utilization measures. For this, a student body, a university student autonomy organization was analyzed and a student body of Myongji University Humanities Campus was selected as a specific target. First, to identify records management status, activities and organization and functions of the student body, we conducted an interview with the president of the student body. Through this, we analyzed the activities of the university student body and examined the necessity of accountability accordingly. Also, we derived the types and characteristics of records to be produced at each stage by analyzing the organization and functions of the student body of Myongji University. Like this, after deriving the types of production records according to the necessity, organization and functions of accountability and activities of the student body, we analyzed records management status of the present student body. First, to identify the general process status of activities of the student body, we analyzed activity process by stage of the student body of Myongji University. And we analyzed records management method of the student body and responsibility principal and conducted real condition analysis. Through this analysis, we presented the measures to ensure accountability of a university student body in three categories such as systematization of records management process, establishment of records management infrastructure, accountability guarantee measures. This study discussed accountability on society by analyzing activities and functions of a student body, targeting a student body, an autonomy organization of university students. And as a measure to secure accountability of a student body, we proposed a model for records management environment settlement. But in terms that a student body is an organization operated in one year basis, there is a limit that records management environment is hard to settle. This study pointed out this limit and was to provide clues when more active researches were carried out in the field of student records management in the future through presentation of student body records management model. Also, it is expected that the analysis results derived from this research will have significance in terms of school history arrangement and conservation.