By Kim Yeojin and Lee Jihae
Video = National Library of Korea
A copy of Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine), the classic textbook on traditional Korean medicine and national treasure written by the 17th-century royal physician Heo Jun of the Joseon Dynasty, is hard for the public to see.
But the section Shilgam Seojae (a title that literally means “Realistic Study” in English) at the National Library of Korea in Seoul’s Seocho-gu District allows people to flip through the pages of documents designed national treasures. Their original text in Chinese script is also translated into Hangeul to boost the documents’ readability.
Located on the third basement floor, this “immersive experiential” section uses cutting-edge technology to offer interactive content at a traditional library. It was opened in March and described in a news release as “Experiencing a future library with experiential content.” The name is a compressed term describing what the section is.
The section is divided into five interactive parts: library storage videos, “Future of Library Discovery,” interactive maps, digital books and VR library.
Visitors peruse a digital book at Shilgam Seojae, an immersive experiential section of the National Library of Korea in Seoul’s Seocho-gu District. (Kim Sunjoo)
The most popular exhibits are Donguibogam and the 18th-century Muyedobotongji (Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts). Public access to the two works is difficult, but Shilgam Seojae presents both in an animated style using state-of-the-art technology.
When opening the large digitized version of Donguibogam, an animated rabbit on top of a dragon pops up from the bottom left corner and explains the liver, the largest organ in the human body. The animated effect is inspired by the classic Korean tale “Byeoljubujeon (The Hare’s Liver).”
Martial arts movements are shown through animation in the digitized Muyedobotongji, making it easier for readers to understand.
Both digital books utilize projection mapping to project lights and videos on the surfaces of objects, making things in real life appear to have different characteristics.
“Library Storage” is one of the five parts of the section Shilgam Seojae at the National Library of Korea. (National Library of Korea)
A large 300-inch (762 cm) section that immediately grabs visitors’ attention is “Library Storage,” which offers futuristic 3D images of preserved national knowledge and information.
The interactive map section offers high-resolution images of historical maps and images. (Kim Sunjoo)
The interactive map section contains high-resolution images of Suseonjeondo, a 19th-century map of Seoul, and “Jinheonmajeongsaekdo,” a painting dated 1678 of horses given to the king as tribute. Viewers can zoom in and out of the images by touching the screens and see photos of a region’s past and present by clicking an area’s name.
The “Future of Library Discovery” section has tables offering a high-tech search method. (Kim Sunjoo)
The library’s chief executive Suh Hye Ran said, “Through Shilgam Seojae, we will offer every year new and realistic interactive content based on this library’s valuable knowledge and cultural resources,” adding, “I hope this becomes a new brand for introducing Korean knowledge and cultural resources in colorful and fun ways.”
Reservations for visiting Shilgam Seojae can be made on the library’s website (www.nl.go.kr).
lvzhen@korea.kr
