Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics ITKC (한국고전번역원)

History and Founding

The Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics (ITKC; Korean: 한국고전번역원) is a governmental organisation in Seoul, Republic of Korea, operating under the Ministry of Education. It was established as the Korean Classics Research Institute (민족문화추진회) and has more than forty years of institutional history. Its primary mandate has always been the systematic translation of classical Korean texts — the vast body of literature written in Classical Chinese (Hanmun) — into modern Korean and, increasingly, into other languages for international scholarship.

Collections and Holdings

ITKC has produced more than 1,140 books across 123 published series, including translations of major historical works such as the Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), Dongmunseon (A Literary Anthology of Korea), the Diary of the Royal Secretariat (Seungjeongwon ilgi), and the Complete Works of King Jeongjo (Hongjaejeonseo). The Institute maintains the DB of Korean Classics (한국고전종합DB), an online database providing original text images, electronic full texts, and Korean-language translations of classical works written in Hanmun. This database is freely accessible and includes the Comprehensive Edition of Korean Literary Collections (Hanguk Munjip Chonggan), a major ongoing publication series of 420 books to date. The Institute also publishes the Journal of Korean Classics and various index and bibliographic reference works.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

While ITKC's primary focus is classical and historical literature, its translations and databases constitute essential primary sources for historians studying communication, governance, and public discourse in pre-modern Korea. The digitised Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, available through the ITKC database, is one of the most important resources for understanding the historical context of Korean information culture.

Access and Usage

The ITKC online database (itkc.or.kr) provides free public access to classical translations and original texts. Physical library access is available at the Institute's premises in the Eunpyeong District of Seoul. The Institute is a member of the KESLI Consortium for electronic academic resources.