30 Years Together: From Undergraduates to Professional Librarians

Deputy Chief Librarian Koo Ja-hun is responsible for curating Korean, Chinese, and Japanese rare books published before 1910. Unlike modern books, these volumes do not include publication information, so he infers when, where, and by whom a book was written based on the type of font, region, and edition involved. Deputy Chief Librarian Han Min-sub is responsible for books published after 1910 but before 1945. He also helps researchers from inside and outside the university to access and understand rare books, and conducts collaborations with external organizations. Both are highly qualified professionals with Ph.Ds.

In fact, Koo and Han attended the Department of Classical Chinese together (Class of ‘92). Seeing Koo become a librarian at Hanjeok Room, Han also decided to pursue the vocation of rare book librarian. The two, who have been friends and colleagues for 30 years now, laughed and said they once named each other “Lifetime Villain” on Cyworld (a Korean social media platform comparable to Facebook).

"I remember when we were undergraduates, we studied The Four Books (Saseo; 四書) with Min-sub and other friends every morning,” said Koo. “After majoring in Classical Chinese poetry and becoming a librarian in 2004, I received my Ph.D. for my research on Jangseoin (藏書印: a stamp used by the owner of a book to indicate ownership). I was attracted to the fact that I could produce helpful information."

Discovering the first edition of Lee Kwang-su's Mujeong (無情)

When asked about their most memorable experiences at Hanjeok Room, both of their eyes lit up. "Someone donated materials from the 1920s, and among them was a book that was wrapped in a calendar. It felt different. I couldn't see the publication information at first, so I carefully peeled off the wrapping and checked, and it turned out to be the first edition of Lee Kwang-su's Mujeong. It was such a valuable edition that no completely preserved copy had been found until then, and it was identified exactly 100 years after the publication of Mujeong in the year it was donated." Han's face lit up as he recalled the excitement of that moment. "Recently, a book that was borrowed from the library before the Korean War and not returned due to the war was finally returned. This happens very occasionally, and among such texts were Goundangpilgi Volumes 1 and 2, which were considered by academia to have been lost." Such understated miracles sometimes happen at Korea University’s Hanjeok Room.

“Sometimes, elderly people who own rare books come and ask what the monetary value of their books is, or ask us to return ‘their’ books, saying they belong to their ancestors.” However, Koo says that Hanjeok Room is the safest repository for rare books. "It is a good thing for everyone that precious old books are permanently kept in Korea University Library. When we explain to those who hesitate to donate that it is beneficial for the preservation of texts and for their passing down to the next generation, they understand. There are also many people who donate their family genealogical materials for preservation purposes."

Where the original copy of Yongbieocheonga lies

Hanjeok Room at Korea University is special not only because it houses 7,700 rare books, including one National Treasure and 10 Treasures, but also because it is the only place in Korea where rare books can be read on the very same day you request access to them. "We also offer a Rare Book Tour for students every month,” says Koo. “And we have many opportunities to communicate and collaborate with people from various majors. This is possible because of the support of Korea University, which believes in the value of the Hanjeok Room's work." (Deputy Chief Koo Ja-hun)

Yongbieocheonga is the most popular book among students during the Rare Book Tour. "I think it's because it's a well-known old book,” says Han. “You can also see the originals of Samguk Yusa and Samguk Sagi, which are often recommended as must-reads, but can generally only be read in translated and/or abridged versions. So the originals are a completely different experience.” (Deputy Chief Han Min-sub)

If you want to encounter the hidden treasures in Hanjeok Room, apply for the Rare Book Tour, which is held on the last Friday of every month.