The Presidential Archives at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 27th it will switch about 54,000 presidential records, which had been kept confidential for reasons such as national security and policy protection, to public disclosure.
The records being released were confirmed for disclosure after review by the Presidential Records Management Committee from among the confidential records designated as the "2025 disclosure reclassification targets." Major records produced during the terms of Presidents Kim Young-sam, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye are included.
The Presidential Archives said the disclosure list includes many diplomatic letters containing close conversations between heads of state and reports detailing key national policy decision-making processes, giving the materials very high historical value.
Key diplomatic records include letters exchanged between President Kim Young-sam and Chinese President Jiang Zemin to promote bilateral friendship, a message of condolence on earthquake damage in China, and a personal letter related to the high-profile "Hwang Jang-yop defection."
The personal letter in question was sent by former President Kim Young-sam to Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Mar. 19, 1997. It conveyed appreciation for the Chinese government's cooperation and consideration in smoothly resolving the former secretary Hwang's defection in accordance with international law and practice. At the time, the fact of the letter's delivery and some key points were reported by the media, but the full text is being released for the first time.
Also included are core reports and meeting materials that laid the foundation for and advanced state affairs, such as the Lee Myung-bak administration's "national symbols street development plan" and the Park Geun-hye administration's "Presidential Transition Committee business report."
Anyone will be able to check the list of records switched to public disclosure on the Presidential Archives website starting on the 28th.
Acting Director Cho Sang-min of the Presidential Archives said, "We will continue expanding the switch to public disclosure of confidential records to not only faithfully carry out national policy tasks and satisfy the public's right to know, but also to enhance transparency in state affairs."