For the continuation of the Xi Jinping Archive at Seoul National University?Chinese Embassy donates expensive books – Chosun Online Chosun Ilbo

Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea decided to donate 14 million won (approximately 1.55 million yen) worth of art history and archeology-related books to the Xi Jinping Archives at the Seoul National University Central Library. The collection consists of 22 copies in 5 categories, including the Complete Works of Ming Paintings (Complete Works of Paintings of the Ming Dynasty) and Complete Works of Qing Dynasty Paintings, and is an important resource for art history and cultural history research. These items are difficult to obtain in South Korea and are expensive, so it is not easy to purchase them, but the Chinese embassy generously offered to donate them. Xi Jinping at Seoul National University Library.

Read more

Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea decided to donate 14 million won (approximately 1.55 million yen) worth of art history and archeology-related books to the Xi Jinping Archives at the Seoul National University Central Library. The collection consists of 22 copies in 5 categories, including the Complete Works of Ming Paintings (Complete Works of Paintings of the Ming Dynasty) and Complete Works of Qing Dynasty Paintings, and is an important resource for art history and cultural history research. These items are difficult to obtain in South Korea and are expensive, so it is not easy to purchase them, but the Chinese embassy generously offered to donate them. There are also calls for the Xi Jinping Archives at the Seoul National University Library to be closed due to recent anti-China sentiment. This donation appears to have been made by the Chinese embassy in order to maintain the archives.

Seoul National University announced on the 17th that the donation of the “Complete Works of Ming Paintings” and “Complete Works of Clear Paintings” was made possible at the request of Seoul National University. Until now, the Chinese embassy has unilaterally sent books that it has chosen without permission. Books and other items have been donated multiple times since the Xi Jinping Archive was opened at the Seoul National University Central Library in 2015, but since most of these were directly selected by the Chinese embassy, ​​some of them were not academic-related books. It also contains many things. This year, however, the system changed to a system in which libraries request books from China and the Chinese embassy donates them. A library official said, “We have discussed the idea that the Chinese embassy would donate books and materials needed by the library, including rare books, expensive books, and books requested by users.”

The prevailing view is that recent anti-China sentiment within South Korea was behind the review of the Xi Jinping Archive’s book donation method. The Xi Jinping Archive was established in 2014, when President Xi Jinping donated 10,052 books and video materials related to China immediately after his speech at Seoul National University. However, in October of last year, criticism was raised in the National Assembly, such as “the name of the archives is inappropriate” and “Is it okay to praise China’s supreme leader who distorted Korean history by saying that Korea was a vassal state of China?” Ta. After that, not only civic groups but even the Seoul National University Alumni Association began demanding that the library be closed.

Seoul National University is said to have proposed to the Chinese side a change in the donation method to the Xi Jinping Archives in order to fend off critical public opinion within South Korea and avoid diplomatic friction with China. A Seoul National University official said, “It seems that the Chinese side was also aware of the calls for its closure and accepted our opinion.” “In any case, it is a win-win for both parties that the library can be used successfully without any major problems.” Isn’t there?” he commented.

Seoul National University is said to have classified books in the Xi Jinping Archives that are likely to be problematic as “subjects of special management.” Jang Deok-jin, head of Seoul National University’s Central Library, said, “During the first half of this year, we conducted a complete survey of the books held in the Xi Jinping Archives, and selected 11 types of books, including those that distort history, rationalize the Chinese Communist Party system, and praise President Xi, and separately manage them. “We plan to continue requesting donations, primarily of academic books related to pre-modern China.”

Reporter Park Chung-hoon

Chosun Ilbo / Chosun Ilbo Japanese version

Copyright (c) Chosunonline.com