▲ Korean Memory website ⓒ National Library of KoreaThe National Library of Korea announced the official launch of the "Korean Memory" digital platform on Friday, providing access to digitized works of art from 122 institutions, including museums and libraries. This initiative, hosting approximately 260,000 items ranging from books to photographs and music clips, represents a significant step towards making nationally important cultural data accessible to the public.

"With the advent of artificial intelligence, there is an increasing need for high-quality, reliable data that can be accessed by the public," remarked a Seoul official regarding the platform's launch.

Highlighting the library's role as the center of the national archive, housing over 14 million books, an official emphasized the importance of tracking aspects of Korean heritage for future generations.

The National Library of Korea plans to expand the "Korean Memory" platform with a Digital Collection, thematically organized around items of national significance. Additionally, the library is set to establish a policy on third-party use of works within Korean Memory, with a national competition scheduled for October to solicit public input.

This launch marks a significant milestone in the library's broader digitization efforts. Since 2014, initiatives like Open Access Korea have connected over 61 institutions, including libraries, research centers, and publishers, facilitating comprehensive access to their data through a single online platform.

According to library data, Open Access Korea has seen over 120 million visits and more than 36 million downloads as of April, underscoring its role in promoting open access to valuable cultural and scholarly resources.

Sayart / Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com