The Korea Daily News in Seoul National University

The Korea Daily News was a significant newspaper published in three editions—Hangul, mixed script (Korean and classical Chinese), and English —during Korea’s late modern period, spanning from the Russo-Japanese War to the Japanese annexation in 1910. Amid escalating national turmoil, the publication was distinguished by its strong anti-Japanese editorial stance. The Korea Daily News is regarded as an essential historical source for the study of Korea’s modern history and was officially designated as a National Registered Cultural Heritage in 2012. This study critically examines the newspaper’s publication system, historical trajectory, cultural heritage designation process, and the current state of its domestic holdings. A comprehensive physical inspection of the collection housed at Seoul National University was conducted, revealing that, in addition to the 920 issues previously documented, an additional 526 issues are preserved. Including duplicate copies, the total number of issues amounts to 2,432, establishing Seoul National University as the largest known repository of Korea Daily News editions in the country. To facilitate the systematic preservation and broader scholarly utilization of this invaluable historical resource, this study advocates for the meticulous cataloging of issues across different institutions and the further designation of additional volumes as a National Registered Cultural Heritage.