Korean Studies E-Resources

The following subscription and free electronic resources are recommended for researching the subject of Korean Studies. Additional assistance is available in the Asian Reading Room.

Subscription databases marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

Free databases and e-resources are freely accessible online. While this list is not exhaustive of all free resources, it highlights the breadth and depth of what is available today.

Subscription Databases and E-Resources
Free Databases and E-Resources

BookRail External This link opens in a new window

E-book service provider with titles from more than 100 Korean publishers and copyright holders, including academic works and history critiques. Book contents are fully searchable. For open access titles click on the "Read" button. Interface is in Korean and English with search in Korean.
Please turn off pop-up blockers in order to view e-books.
Chosun Ilbo Archive External This link opens in a new window
Searchable databases of Chosun Daily Newspaper PDF archives from the first issue in 1920 to present. Search in Korean only.
Collection of Korean Anthologies External This link opens in a new window
Compiled large number of anthologies written by 3,500 Korean scholars from 7th century to 1945. The database makes it easier for users to browse the original contents with the table of contents which contains information on title, period, edition, and index of the whole Korean literature collection. It is a powerful tool to Korean researchers since each title deals with various historical events, literature, arts, and diplomacy, religion, philosophy, Buddhism, poetry, National political system, education, and more. Interface is in Korean in Chinese characters.
DBpia External This link opens in a new window
DBpia is a full text database of scholarly journals published by major Korean academic societies and research institutes. It includes over 1.8 million articles from 1918 to present. It provides digital full text of Korean reputational journals and conference proceedings together with their bibliographic data. Convenient management of bibliographic information using RefWorks, Endnote and Scholar's Aid.
e-Korean Studies External This link opens in a new window
E-Korean Studies is an integrated and comprehensive service whose objective is to make electronic resources in the field of Korean studies accessible worldwide. It offers various contents and sources in all academic disciplines of Korean Studies. Offerings cover the arts and humanities, social sciences, sciences, medical sciences, physical education, and various sources of content, including monographs, periodicals and newspapers, dissertations and research reports, law, classical literature and video lectures.

Click on the following links to access individual databases within e-Korean Studies:

e-Article: A database of e-articles is the information system that researchers can easily search and download academic materials of academic societies based on diverse search methods. [Search in Korean, Chinese scripts, & English]

Scholar: A full-text academic journal service established by Kyobo Book Centre which is the top bookstore in Korea and Hakjisa which is a well-known publisher in the field of psychology and education. Scholar is covering all academic fields and supplying 3rd largest volume, 400,000 articles [Interface: Korean and English; Search in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese & Global IME]

Korean Social-Science Data Center (KSDC DB): A full-text academic journal service in all subject fields, especially psychology, pedagogy, education, and social welfare studies. Full-text use, print and download of PDFs is available, as well as access through mobile devices. [Search in Korean, Chinese scripts, & English]

KoreasA2Z - Korean Studies DB Contents and The Digital Culture Art Course: A knowledge content resource for Korean studies, including full-text online databases of primary sources and classics organized by subjects or format. Works such as Samguk sagi (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms) and the Digital Encyclopedia of National Culture (EncyKorea) are included in KoreaA2Z. Includes Translation, comments, original text and scanned files. [Korean only]

Korean History & Culture Research Database: A full-text collection of excavation reports of historical sites in Korea operated by national and university museums and private research institutions since 1910. It contains research reports, catalogs, and maps related to Korean geography, history, folklore, and architecture. Easy search categorized into periods, areas, characteristics, and keywords. Also rare books published during Japanese Colonial Period by Japanese Government General are included. [Search in Korean, Chinese scripts]

History Culture Series: A multi-media content database dedicated to Korean history and culture. Developed for general users, as well as professionals and museum curators. It allows the users to store the contents easily and quickly or use materials in the classroom to understand Korean history and culture outside of Korea. Abundant photos and images, as well as functions to save the photos and images. [Search in Korean, Chinese scripts, & English]

LawnB’s Legal Information Service: A portal service for all law-related issues, indexing 50 categories such as statues, precedents, commentaries, administrative documents and statistics, academic articles, law journals, law related news and so on. [Search in Korean only]

LawnB ONJU: An online legal commentary. It explains laws of different fields and the contents are immediately updated. The commentary also explains how laws are interpreted to legal professionals and the general public. It also focuses on in-demand laws, such as the Building Act, the Privacy Act, the Law on Monopoly Regulation, and Fair Trade to provide useful legal information more efficiently. [Korean only]
Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS) External This link opens in a new window
KISS is a searchable database of full-text articles in about 6,000 journals published by 1,200 Korean academic societies and research centers / institutions, covering all subject areas. Includes KSI e-book, a full-text database of almost 9,000 e-books on philosophy, religion, social science, natural science, engineering, arts, linguistics, literature, and history. [search in Korean and Japanese]
Korea Pro External This link opens in a new window
Up-to-date analysis on South Korea’s foreign relations, politics, society and economy.
KPM: North Korea's Newspaper & Journals Database External This link opens in a new window
KPM is a full text of journals and newspapers published North Korea, including the English edition of the Pyongyang Times. Searchable by keywords, and browsable by subject areas or journal/newspaper titles. [Search in Korean & Japanese]
KRpia External This link opens in a new window
KRpia is a full text database for Korean Studies covering history, literature, dictionaries and traditional medicines. Includes image files of original texts in classical Chinese with searchable translated texts in Korean. [Search in Korean & Chinese]
Moazine External This link opens in a new window
Full-text database of over 200 Korean magazines of various topics currently published in South Korea. The database covers popular culture, arts, education, literature, politics, economy and society etc. Each magazine is browsable and searchable to the article level.
National Assembly Library (Korea) Databases External This link opens in a new window
The full-text databases contain over five million items, including monographs, government publications, and theses and dissertations covering all subject fields. [Search in Korean & Japanese]
Naver News Library External This link opens in a new window
Provides a digital archive service for archive between 1920 and 1999 from major Korean newspapers: Tonga ilbo (1920-1999), Kyŏnghyang sinmun (1946-1999), Maeil kyŏngje (1966-1999), and Han’gyŏre (1988-1999). The integrating database enables users to explore the history of Korea in a wide range of categories according to subjects (e.g. politics, economy) and document types (e.g., news articles, advertisement). [Search in Korean only]
NK Pro External This link opens in a new window
This site aims to be a one-stop-shop on North Korea, bringing together news, opinion & analysis, research tools, data, and subject specialists in one convenient place. Built by North Korea specialists for professionals working on or with the subject, NK Pro brings together North Korea related news and analysis in the world and provides them in real-time from over 100 hand-selected sources daily. Users also have access to a range of regularly updated directories of organizations, companies, experts and practitioners working in this specialist field.
RISS International External This link opens in a new window
Access full-text of journal articles published by Korean scholarly associations and universities, the full text of theses and dissertations on a wide spectrum of subjects from 229 Korean universities, books and media items (e.g. CD-ROM, Video) in more than 797 higher education institutions and professional libraries, and the union catalog of Korea’s nationwide university libraries.

Annual of the Chosŏn Dynasty External This link opens in a new window

Chosŏn Wangjo Sillok (the Annals of the Chosŏn Dynasty) is the annual records of the Chosŏn dynasty of Korea. The annals, or Sillok, comprise 1,893 volumes and cover the longest continual period of a single dynasty in the world. With the exception of two sillok compiled during the colonial era, the Annals are the 151st national treasure of Korea and listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World registry. The Annals has since 2006 been digitalized by the National Institute of Korean History and available on the internet with Modern Korean translation in Hangul and original text in Classical Chinese. In January 2012, the National Institute of Korean History announced that they are to translate the Annals into English by the year 2033. In 2017, ‘The Veritable Records of King Sejong’ was translated for the first time in English. [search in Korean]. 조선 왕조 실록
Daily NK External This link opens in a new window

Launched in 2004 and now part of a consortium headed by the Unification Media Group (UMG), Daily NK is a non-profit organization based in Seoul, South Korea, and a provider of news about North Korea from a wide range of sources based inside and outside the country. Daily NK’s sources in North Korea provide an unparalleled glimpse into the lives of North Koreans. This page provides a glimpse of important milestones in the history of Daily NK.
Daily Records of Royal Secretariat of Chosŏn Dynasty External This link opens in a new window

Sŭngjŏngwŏn ilgi is a daily record of Sŭngjŏngwŏn (Royal Secretariat) during the Chosŏn dynasty of Korea (1392 - 1910), which records the king's public life and his interactions with the bureaucracy on a daily basis. It is the 303rd national treasure of Korea and designated as one of the UNESCO's Memory of the World. UNESCO confirmed Sŭngjŏngwŏn ilgi as the world's longest continuous record of king's daily life in 2001 and designated it in the Memory of the World Programme. Searchable any record by name, place name, book title, article title, and period. [search in Korean]. 승정원 일기
DATA.GO.KR External This link opens in a new window

Data Portal is a system that provides integrated public data operated by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security in South Korea. Searchable by different categories, including education, transportation, finance, social welfare, unification diplomacy, environment, law, science and technology, and more. [Search in Korean]. 공공 데이터 포털
Han'gukhak tijit'ŏl ak'aibŭ External This link opens in a new window

"This site is operated by the Academy of Korean Studies that provides general information about Korean history as a digital image for researchers specializing in Korean studies, including original images of Korean rare books and ancient documents, Korean dialect materials and folk songs as audio materials, people's names, place names, and official titles as dictionaries, etc."
Han'guk kojŏnjŏk chonghap mongnok sisŭtʻem External This link opens in a new window

KORCIS is a union catalog of Korean rare books (and manuscripts), which includes records from 51 Korean institutions and 32 foreign institutions (as of March 2010). It has over 420 thousand bibliographic records and provides access to the full-text of over 36 thousand items. A presentation (PDF) by a librarian from the National Library of Korea in March 2010 provides background information
Hanʼguk Hyangtʻo Munhwa Chŏnja Taejŏn External This link opens in a new window

Provides comprehensive information on local culture by integrating various digital local culture exhibitions in about 230 cities, counties, and districts. Compilation of a total of 89 regions has been completed (83 regions in Korea, 2 regions in North Korea, 4 regions in overseas).
Hanʼguk Komunsŏ Charyogwan External This link opens in a new window

The archives of ancient books and ancient documents established by the Korean Academy of Sciences are searchable. Provide integrated knowledge such as electronic maps, ancient maps, ancient manuscripts, calligraphy dictionaries, high-name dictionaries, person dictionaries, term dictionaries, etc. [Interface: Korean & English]
Hanʼguk Yŏksa Chŏngbo Tʻonghap Sisŭtʻem External This link opens in a new window

Integrated digital library on Korean history. Includes classical works, ancient documents, historical maps, official court records of the Chosŏn dynasty such as the Sŭngjŏngwŏn ilgi (Diary of the Royal Secretariat), materials related to anti-Japanese movement during the colonial period, relevant modern literature, newspapers and magazines, Korean translations of the works in Classical Chinese, and an essential dictionary of Korean history among many other items.
Korea Independent Movement Information System External This link opens in a new window

Tongnip Kinyŏmgwan Hanʼguk Tongnip Undong chŏngbosisŭtʻem focuses on the indepence movements of the Japanese colonial period. Provides the list of victims of the Japanese colonial period, independence activists index, independence movement index, and its history. Searchable its collections by subject, year, category, and publication. [search in Korean]. 독립 기념관 한국 독립 운동 정보 시스템
Korean American Digital Archive External This link opens in a new window

The Korean American Digital Archive brings more than 13,000 pages of documents, over 1,900 photographs, and about 180 sound files together in one searchable collection that documents the Korean American community during the period of resistance to Japanese rule in Korea and reveal the organizational and private experience of Koreans in America between 1903 and 1965. The components of the Korean American Digital Archive include: Korean American Archive Photograph set; Korean American Museum Oral History series; Korean Heritage Library Subject Files; Korean American Private Records; the Reverend Soon Hyun Collection works.
Korean Bibliography This link opens in a new window

This bibliography includes approximately 4,800 records of books about Korea in English up to 1995 held by the Library of Congress. The topical term index was created based on contents of the book to provide an easy-to-use database of English-language works to a wide range of audience within the Library and the world wide community of scholars. Searchable by keyword, author, title, subject, and browsable by topical term index.
Korean Missionary Archives External This link opens in a new window

This collection contains materials from Americans who spent important parts of their lives in Korea as missionaries.
Korean National Bibliography External This link opens in a new window

Korean National Bibliography is a bibliography created to cover all publications published in the Republic of Korea. The site provides access to Data Collection, Korean Library MapDigital Collection, Cataloging in Publication (CIP), and Korean Library Information System Network (KOLIS-NET). As an integrated database, KOLIS-NET is searchable by subject, title, author, and keyword search. [search in Korean]. 국가 서지
Korean Research Memory External This link opens in a new window

Provides information on research results in the humanities and social sciences through an integrated search portal. Search for the following: reports, thesis, dissertations, books, world humanities forum, Korea forum, online humanities course, full-text DB, integrated DB on comparative study of Korea, various dictionary DBs, including Buddhist Encyclopedia, Korean culture terms translated into other languages, etc. It is accessible by mobile. [Interface: Korean and English]. 기초 학문 자료 센터
Kukka Charyo Chonghap Mongnok External This link opens in a new window

An integrated catalog database jointly built by 1,600 public/professional libraries nationwide, including the National Central Library, and the government department's library. Since 2001, the National Library of Korea has operated a comprehensive list of national data based on a network of mutual cooperation with domestic libraries. Provides the comprehensive list of national data which can be easily and quickly searched and used by all researchers. [Search in Korean, Japanese, English, and more]
Kukka Charyo Kongdong Mongnok sisŭtʻem External This link opens in a new window

An integrated catalog database that is jointly built by the National Library of Korea, over 1,800 public and specialized libraries across the country, and data centers of government ministries.
Kukka Chŏnja Tosŏgwan External This link opens in a new window

The National Electronic Library connects major domestic libraries to provide integrated search services centered on digital texts online to researchers. Linked libraries include National Library of Korea, National Defense University Electronic Library, National Assembly Library of Korea, Rural Development Administration Agricultural Science Library, Supreme Court Library, National Center for Medical Science Knowledge of Korea, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology Library, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, and Korea Education & Research Information Service. [Search in Korean, Japanese, English, and more]
Kuksa Pʻyŏnchʻan Wiwŏnhoe. Hanʼguksa Teit'ŏbeisŭ External This link opens in a new window

It covers all periods of Korean history, from ancient history to modern history. It provides various types of materials, including maps, photos, and text-based data of books and documents. Provided are the primary data of Korea's ancient history research (Samguk sagi, Samguk yusa, etc.), Sŭngjŏngwŏn ilgi (Diary of the Royal Secretariat) during the Chosŏn dynasty, documents related to the Independence Movement, and newspapers and magazines that are the basis of Korean modern history research. [Search in Korean, Chinese, Japanese]
Kungnip Chungang Tosŏgwan External This link opens in a new window

The National Library, founded in 1945, is a comprehensive and treasured repository of intellectual and informational resources of the Republic of Korea. Since its establishment, the Library has built its extensive collection of national publications and digital materials, which are also preserved thoroughly and organized systematically. In addition, the National Library selects valuable knowledge and cultural resources from the collections, and provides them as online content. Information provided includes Korean newspaper archives, official gazettes, records related to overseas Korea, online digital data, audiobooks, and online exhibitions etc. [Interface: Korean and English]
Kungnip Kugŏwŏn ŭi p'yojun Kugŏ taesajŏn External This link opens in a new window

Korean dictionary issued by the National Institute of the Korean Language in compliance with the language regulations such as standard Korean language regulations and Korean spelling.
Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies External This link opens in a new window

Kyujanggak was a royal academic research institute and royal library in the late Chosŏn dynasty, and remaining books were transferred to Kyujanggak of Seoul National University after liberation. Kyujanggak Korean Studies Institute was established in 2006 to promote of Korean studies at home and abroad, and for the preservation and management of collections. Kyujanggak Korean Studies Institute has a total of 300,000 materials, including 175,000 Korean rare books, 50,000 old documents, and 18,000 books. All these materials can be searched in the original text in the e-Kyujanggak Charyo Ch’ongso. [search in Korean]. 서울 대학교 규장각 한국학 연구원
Neibŏ Chisik Paekkwa & Sajon External This link opens in a new window

A service that collects and provides various encyclopedias and specialized dictionaries as a database. 2,700 specialized dictionaries, including Doosan Dong-A Encyclopedia (360,000 entries), Korean National Culture Encyclopedia (70,000 entries), and Korean Folklore Encyclopedia (6,000 entries).
NK Chosun External This link opens in a new window

Provides various information on North Korea, including expert columns, analysis of research institutes, and daily life of North Korean defectors, North Korea's nuclear weapons development, inter-Korean exchanges, human rights of North Koreans, and preparation for possible military provocations by North Korea.
North Korea Information Portal External This link opens in a new window

The North Korea Information Portal website was established in 2014 by the Ministry of Unification in 2014 to provide information on North Korea. The site constitutes North Korean society through North Korean politics, military, economics, society, education, and culture, etc. In the North Korean character search, you can find a total of 544 major figures, including their names, place of birth, career, date of birth, education, affiliation and position, and family relations. [search in Korean]. 통일부 북한 정보 포털. 인물 검색
North Korean Serials Index This link opens in a new window

This powerful online article index database is a tool that North Korean researchers can easily use to access specific articles and topics of interest included in the North Korean serials collection. At present, a total of 44,242 index records have been created, which covers 21 serial titles in North Korean collection. Researchers can search by keyword, title, subject, name, publication date, and publisher as well as browse article by title, authors, and subject.
Presidential Archives External This link opens in a new window

Founded on November 30, 2007, the Presidential Archives is an organization belonging to the National Archives of Korea that oversees the affairs of the management of Presidential records. It collects, manages, services, preserves, and reclassifies secret records and private presidential records during and after the presidency. It includes letters sent and received, photographs, video records, speech records, and more. There are 7,600 past presidential speeches, from the first president (Syngman Rhee, 1948-1960) to the 18th president (Pak Kŭn-hye, 2013-2017). [Interface: Korean and English]. 대통령 기록관
Taehan Min'guk Sinmun Ak'aibŭ External This link opens in a new window

Korea Newspaper Archive' is where you can search for newspaper articles online. It is an integrated article search service platform that allows the researchers to quickly and easily find and read a total of 1,925,000 articles in 70 newspapers published before 1950. Searchable by articles, year, people, case, and place.
Tongbuga Yŏksa Chaedan External This link opens in a new window

The Northeast Asian History Foundation was established in September 2006 to insightfully overcome discord and conflicts arising from differing perceptions of history, and bring peace and prosperity to East Asia. This site provides materials on Northeast Asia's ancient history, academic research on Dokdo Island, comfort women, and the various historical issues in Northeast Asia. [Interface: Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese].
Tʻongilbu Pukhan Charyo Sentʻŏ External This link opens in a new window

The site brings information together on North Korea related news, North Korea's primary materials, publications from the Ministry of Unification, and academic DBs to the public and researchers. Fully searchable of North Korean dictionary, inter-Korean language comparison, IT term comparison, English comparison of the organization of the North Korean Party and Government, knowledge dictionary of Inter-Korean Relations.

Asian Studies: Subscription Databases and Free Electronic Resources

Asian Studies: Ask a Librarian

Korean Studies E-Resources