Won Hyejung

Assistant Deputy Director

Seoul Metropolitan Archives

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives serves as a bridge connecting the city's past and present, and as a repository of urban memory for future generations. On May 15, 2019, the Seoul Metropolitan Government established the Seoul Metropolitan Archives—the first professional public records management institution in Korea—dedicated to the systematic collection, preservation, and utilization of public records. Major policies and administrative records of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, along with various documents related to citizens’ lives are gathered here to bring Seoul’s history and culture to life.

The establishment of the Seoul Metropolitan Archives was not achieved in a short period of time. In 2007, the revision of the Public Records Management Act made it a legal obligation for local governments to establish records management institutions, prompting Seoul city to begin actively preparing for it in response. In 2012, the then Mayor of Seoul issued a directive stating, "In order to build the world’s best 'Seoul City Archive,' benchmark advanced cases such as the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration and commission a research project to establish and operate the archive." This clarified the direction for the establishment of the Seoul Metropolitan Archives. Against this backdrop, after several years of planning and preparation, the Seoul Metropolitan Archives was established.

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives was built with a total floor area of approximately 15,000 square meters, consisting of two underground levels and five above-ground floors. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for record preservation, as well as archival reading rooms and exhibition halls for public access and viewing of records. Operated as an “open archive” where all citizens can freely visit, browse records, and view exhibitions, it functions not merely as a storage facility but as a vibrant space for citizens.

Photo 1. The exterior view of the Seoul Metropolitan Archives (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 2. Archival Reading Room (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 3. Exhibition Room (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

The organizational structure of the Seoul Metropolitan Archives was established in January 2018, with a total of 25 staff members working across three divisions. The Records Policy Division is responsible for collecting and transferring municipal and citizen records of Seoul, as well as establishing records management policies and building collaborative systems. The Preservation Services Division handles the preservation of records based on different media types, the operation of the preservation storage, and manages online and offline reading, exhibitions, and educational programs, playing a role in expanding interactions with the public. The Operations Support Division is in charge of administrative tasks such as personnel, budget, and contracts, as well as facility management, including architecture, electrical, and communication systems.

Key professionals include archival researchers, curatorial researchers, engineering researchers, librarians, and IT officers. These experts manage the entire lifecycle of records—from creation, selection, transfer, and preservation to utilization—specializing in the management of records and faithfully carrying out the functions of a permanent records management institution.

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives has three core roles.

First, it systematically collects and manages important public records produced during the major policy-making processes and administrative activities of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and its affiliated institutions. This enhances administrative transparency and accountability, while ensuring the public’s right to know.

Secondly, it professionally preserves and manages important records deemed to have long-term preservation value. This includes disinfection, deacidification, conservation and restoration treatment, and digitization. The Seoul Metropolitan Archives is especially proud of its preservation environment, which is designed to keep records safe even in disasters such as fires or floods.

Thirdly, preserved records are made easily accessible and usable for both citizens and researchers, while efforts to promote a culture of sharing the value of these records with the public are actively made. Through permanent and special exhibitions, citizen participation programs, and educational lectures, the Seoul Metropolitan Archives emphasizes that records are not just remnants of the past, but assets for the present and future.

Photo 4. Archival storage (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 5. Preservation and Restoration Room (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 6. Mutimedia Room (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives, guided by the philosophy that “citizens' records are the city's history,” is also committed to fostering a citizen-driven archival culture. It collects records from citizens—such as photographs and videos—that capture the changes in Seoul, thereby archiving various aspects of the city that administrative records alone cannot convey.

In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Archives, based on its expertise in records management, presents an advanced model for local government recordkeeping and is actively engaged in collaboration with archival institutions both domestically and internationally. These efforts play a significant role in establishing Seoul as a leading city in archival culture.

Photo 7. Seoul Archives Fair (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 8. Educational Programs (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 9. Archive Consulting (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Records Embracing the Time of Seoul

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives is filled with a diverse range of records that reflect the identity and development of the city. Currently, approximately 370,000 items of records are preserved in the Archives, with general documents making up the largest portion at 310,000 items. Audiovisual materials, including videos and photographs, number 35,000 items, while microfilm records total 24,000 rolls, and administrative records amount to 1,500 items.

At the heart of the records held by the Seoul Metropolitan Archives are public records produced from the city’s major administrative activities. These records are more than just information; they are crucial evidence that shows how urban policies have been developed and implemented. For instance, the evolution of urban planning, the planning and implementation of major development projects, and the changes in social welfare policies can all be vividly traced through these records.

Photo 10. Records of the Land Plotting and Reorganization Project in Seogyo District of the Seoul Urban Planning Project (1956) (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 11. Yeouido Comprehensive Development Plan (1968) (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 12. Supplementary Documents to the Registration of Vagrant Children (1953~1963) (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives also collects private records that reflect the daily lives and memories of citizens. Photographs, videos, and interviews from the citizens present another side of Seoul. These records are invaluable assets that convey the voices of the people, the texture of their lives, and the atmosphere of the times—elements that administrative records cannot capture.

Representative examples include black-and-white photographs of Seoul in the 1980s, vivid scenes from the street cheering during the 2002 World Cup, and records of activities from migrant worker and disability advocacy groups. Through such diverse citizen records that embrace the variety of Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Archives is creating a more multidimensional urban archive.

Photo 13. Aerial photograph of Seoul from the 1960s (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 14. Seoul in the 1980s (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 15. Street cheering during the 2002 World Cup (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives also preserves a large collection of audiovisual materials, including promotional materials from the City Hall, bird’s eye view of the city plan, event photographs, and documentary videos. These records serve as an important means of promoting a culture of recordkeeping, as citizens can visually engage with and easily relate to the city’s history. In particular, documentary videos related to major policies, aerial photographs, and images showing changes before and after redevelopment are highly valuable as educational, research, and exhibition resources.

The Archives makes a significant portion of its holdings accessible to the public for viewing and use. Through the “Seoul Metropolitan Archives website,” users can easily search for key records, view digital materials, and submit requests. In addition, various publications—such as project reports, catalog books, and archiving books—offer insight into the Archive’s diverse activities. For researchers, it serves as a treasure trove of urban materials, and for citizens, it offers a meaningful way to understand the present through the lens of the past.

Photo 16. Record search page on the website (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 17. Search guide page on the website (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

Photo 18. Archival content page on the website (ⓒ Seoul Metropolitan Archives)

The Seoul Metropolitan Archives, the City Heritage for the Future

To record is to take responsibility, and memory shapes a city’s identity. As a platform that connects government and citizens, past and future, the Seoul Metropolitan Archives faithfully documents the city’s growth and transformation. Serving as the archive of Seoul—the capital of South Korea—it carries out the important mission of preserving the city's collective memory and passing it on to future generations. Quietly, yet steadfastly, the Seoul Metropolitan Archives continues to fulfill its role each day.

If you wish to understand Seoul, a visit to the Archives is highly recommended.