• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1999

The responsibility of keeping and caring of unearthed cultural properties belongs to the National Museum according to cultural properties protection law(law No.3644). So unearthed cultural properties are possessed by the museum after going through the regular course. Number of those cultural properties is increasing swiftly. Every year more than ten thousand units of cultural properties are unearthed. The number of unearthed cultural properties is expected to increase in the future. Howeve, the keeping facilities of the National Museum are already over-saturated. So many unearthed cultural properties are being entrusted to university museums that have bad facilities and few personnel. It makes many problems including inadequate caring. More pressing problem is that those cultural properties are not under the protection of scientific conservation processing and caring. The reason is that there are so few conservation scientists in Korea. There is no independent department of conservation science even in the National Museum, where only five members are working as conservation experts. To solve those problems, new system and organization which win take charge of conservation and care of cultural properties, that is, an organization which will consist of scientific keeping facilities and expert personnel (conservation scientists) is needed immediately.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.6 no.2 s.8
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• pp.119-125
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• 1997

The National Museum of Korea bears a responsibility of keeping and caring of unearthed cultural properties according to Cultural Properties Protection Law, No. 3644. As a result, the unearthed cultural properties are stored up in the museum. More than 10,000 units of cultural properties are unearthed each year, and the number is increasing as years go by. However, the keeping facilities of the museum are already over-saturated. Consequently, many unearthed cultural properties are entrusted to university museums that have poor facilities and a few experts. More pressing problem is that these cultural properties are not under the proper protection of scientific conservation. One reason is that there are not many conservation scientists in our country. Only five members are working as conservation experts at the National Museum of Korea and 20 or so nation-wide. We propose to establish a new system and organization which will take charge of the conservation and care of the cultural properties, and consist of scientific keeping facilities and expert personnel (conservation scientists) to solve these problems.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.453-457
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• 2020

Tomb No. 1 (Donghachong) of the Buyeo Neungsan-ri Tomb complex (listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site), is a royal tomb of the Baekje Sabi Period. One wooden coffin unearthed there is an important relic of the funerary culture of the Baekje. This study examines the production techniques of gilt-bronze objects attached to the wooden coffin excavated from Donghachong. The base metal of the gilt-bronze object is pure copper, with single α phase crystals in a heterogeneous form containing annealing twins; Au and Hg are detected in the gilt layer. We suggest that the surface of the forging copperplate is gilded using a mercury amalgam technique; it is thought that the annealing twins of the base material formed during the heat treatment process for the sheet metal. The gilt layer is three to five times thicker for the gilt-bronze objects found near the foot of the coffin than those near the head. We estimate the plating process is carried out at least three times because three layers are identified on the plate near the head. Therefore, it is likely that the materials and methods used to construct the gilt-bronze objects found in different parts of the coffin are the same, but the number of platings is different. This research confirms the metal crafting techniques used in Baekje by the examination of production techniques of these gilt-bronze objects. Further, our paper presents an important example of restoration and reconstruction for a museum exhibition, through effective use of scientific analysis and investigation.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.142-157
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• 2016

In 2008, the oldest wooden tablets, in the Baekje area, were uncovered from the Bogam-ri site in Naju. This paper defines wooden tablets to as objects with inking inscriptions. Of 65 wooden tablets contained in the excavation report of this site, this paper examines the meanings of 13 tablets with inscriptions written in ink by comparing them with other tablets found in the Baekje area. All tablets were unearthed from Pit Feature No. 1, a large-scale feature, at this site. Vertical stratigraphy of the feature is divided into 43 layers; but it seems that it does not reflect the chronological order, since unearthed artefacts, including wooden tablets, pottery, and roof tiles, turned out to be produced at the same age. Wooden tablets were not found in other features, and intentionally buried in this feature. Typological characteristics of wooden tablets indicate that the pit was the secondary refuse place. The inscription of the wooden tablets labeled 'gyeongonyeon(庚午年)' and the radiocarbon dates of them indicate that these tablets were created in the early 7th century AD, centered in 610 AD. On the basis of contents and typological characteristics, these are classified into six documents, six tags, and one tablet for other purpose. Total 89 pieces of wooden tablets have been unearthed in the Baekje area. Except tablets found in Naju and Geumsan, all have been collected in palaces, royal gardens, and temples inside and outside of the Sabi Capital. The significant wooden tablets of Baekje, which can be compared with tablets from Bogam-ri, were unearthed at from the Gwanbuk-ri site, the Gungnamji site, and the Ssangbuk-ri 280-5 site. Comparative studies on wooden tablets have revealed that the place name during the Wungjin Commandery Period, the status marking method standardized in the order of place name, official rank and person's name, the fact that Baekje operated the system of prefecture(郡), and Bogam-ri was one of the places where prefecture was established, and the evidence of family register system. Wooden tablets at Bogam-ri record the documented date (610 AD), the documented place (Duhilseong where the prefecture established), and the writers (advisors and staffs of the prefecture). The recorded contents of them are invaluable data showing the local administrative system of Baekje, such as the status marking method, the means of description, the family-register system, and the land surveying system.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.619-635
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• 2024

The traditional style of Chinese women's dress was formed during the Zhou Dynasty (周), further developed during the Qin Dynasty (秦漢), and reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty (唐宋). Additionally, the garment classification system was solidified during the Ming Dynasty (明). This study focuses on the patterns and 3D reconstruction of the Wave Ju garment (曲裾深衣), a traditional Chinese aristocratic women's garment representative of the Han Dynasty period. This study analyzed the style, dimensions, patterns, colors, and fabrics of the Wave Ju garment based on literature studies and excavated archival materials. Moreover, its shape, dimensions, and patterns were reconstructed using a CLO 3D program. This process aimed to recreate the original appearance of the traditional clothing as much as possible, and data on aspects such as pressure and deformation force were compared and analyzed to comprehensively evaluate its functionality and the effects of wear. The goal of this study is to contribute to the protection and legacy of traditional Chinese women's clothing through historical documentation, clothing analysis, and 3D reconstruction.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.297-309
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• 2013

Iron objects become corroded at fast speed from the moment when they are excavated, so it is needed to control corrosion through processes of conservation treatment. However, re-corrosion mostly takes place in excavate iron objects, although they have already gone through the process of conservation treatment, and it is more difficult to carry out the second conservation treatment of re-corroded excavated iron objects than the first conservation treatment, and it requires a longer period of time to treat them as well. In this study, aims to discover factors of re-corrosion by scientifically analyzing corrosion products generated during the process of storage after the process of conservation treatment. The finished on conservation treatment of the iron artifacts, which were unearthed from three ancient site in Gyeongju by using the same conservation method between 2002 and 2009, re-corrosion condition observed on the packaging-iron artifacts. Focused on 9 target forged iron artifacts among them, this study analyzed the physical changes by mass measurement, naked-eye and microscopic observations and the chemical changes by SEM-EDS, XRD, IC and ICP analysis. The results show that the yellowish brown corrosion products formed on the facing surface of part dropped from the artifacts had different associated forms but acicular shape. In addition, the acicular shape became clearer as the color changed from red to yellowish brown. According to the process when the conservation treatment was completed, the mass of the artifacts increased in proportion to the corrosion products and the chloride ion ($Cl^-$) concentration had a tendency to increase relatively. ${\beta}$-FeOOH (akaganeite) was confirmed in the XRD analysis for the corrosion products of all the collected samples. As a result of ICP analysis, $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ components were confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.154-169
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• 2019

This study attempts to shed light on the nature and purpose of the small melon-shaped celadon ewer that was found in the Sinan shipwreck, focusing on the fact that it has the shape of a ewer, yet could not really have served as a tea or liquor utensil given its small size and unusual shape. We analyzed the shape-related characteristics of other melon-shaped celadon ewers as well as this one; checked the use of similar items unearthed in China and Japan; examined the relevant literature, materials, and paintings; and arrived at the following conclusion. First, it was found that the small melon-shaped celadon ewer was one of a type that was first made in the Southern Song Period in China and continued to be made until the Yuan Period. The artifact displays some differences from many similar relics found in the same shipwreck, particularly its spout, lid, and handle. Second, research on the tea ceremonies and types of liquors prevalent during the Song and Yuan Periods of China, as well as the appearance of this ewer, suggest that it was unsuitable for use as a liquor utensil. Third, we looked at the relevant literature records, paintings, and relics unearthed in China and Japan in an attempt to determine its actual purpose. It is well known that the literati had a deep affection for stationery items, particularly water droppers, which were made in a variety of shapes during the Song Period of China and thereafter. According to literature dating from the Song and Ming Periods, it appears that melon- or ewer-shaped water droppers were used. Certain paintings from the Ming Period depict a small ewer, along with a water dropper, as a stationery item. Looking at paintings dating from medieval Japan, small ewer-shaped objects do not figure among the tea and liquor utensils depicted, whereas kettles with handles and hot water bottles do. Objects known as yeonjeok (a water dropper) were included among the items said to have been made in pottery kilns during medieval Japan. However, a book on flower arrangement of Japan dating from the fifteenth century shows a small ewer, with flowers in it, among the stationery items placed on a desk. Based on this detail, it is concluded that the small melon-shaped celadon ewer from the Sinan shipwreck might have been used as a flower bottle as well as a stationery item.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.4-21
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• 2012

Jade ornaments, which include slit earrings, scoop-shaped objects and tubular beads have been extensively identified in Northeast Asia, such as Korea, China, Japan and the Maritime Province of Siberia. Among them slit earrings are distributed in the whole area of Northeast Asia. Although this object shows the typological differences in accordance with the excavated region in detail, all of them are characterised by the slit on the centre of jade ring. The buried context and the shape of this object suggest that this artefact was the earring; thus it is named to 'slit earring'. Most of slit earrings of the Neolithic Age concentrate in Northeast China and the areas south of the Yangtze River, and the Japanese Archipelago. However, unfortunately, Slit earrings, which were produced in the tradition of the incipient and early phases of the Neolithic Age in Northeast Asia, have not been excavated in the Korean Peninsula. The number of slit earrings reported so far is eight, and especially until the 20th century, almost none was reported with its exact excavation location and only three of them are known as excavated through surface surveys and preliminary excavations. However, from the beginning of the 21st century onwards, the number of discovered slit earrings is increasing. Particularly, five pieces of this object uncovered in the 21st century are discovered in the official excavation; thus the exact archaeological context such as buried locations and chronologies could be estimated. By considering the buried context, slit earrings are associated with stone axes, which were produced in the incipient and early phase of the Neolithic Age in the Korean Peninsula. In addition, considering the number of unearthed objects is a few, it could be postulate that slit earring was the artefact that only a few persons, who had a special role in the society, could possess. However, slit jade earrings that have been excavated in the Korean Peninsula are extremely low in their number compared to the cases of its neighbouring countries such as China and Japan, and the researches on this subject have not been much conducted in Korea. Therefore, it is my supposition that slit earrings, which have been discovered in the Korean Peninsula, might be the imported item from the nearby areas. Particularly, the Southern Coast was closely connected with Japanese Islands and the Eastern Coast was interchanged with Northeast China or the Maritime Province of Siberia. Considering that excavations and researches on the Neolithic remains in the Korean Peninsula have not been sufficiently and actively conducted, it could be expected that the further investigations and researches will reveal the sufficient quantities of slit earrings in near future.