The Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (Director Park Jong-seo) has completed the conservation treatment of the national registered cultural heritage 'Korean Braille "Hunmeangjeongeum" Production and Distribution Artefacts' including the "Maengsailji" and "Ilji."

The "Maengsailji" and "Ilji" are books that contain handwritten records along with various related materials. They compiled various records such as a certificate of machinery procurement and its usage for the production of Hunmeangjeongeum, pamphlets from printing companies, handwritten drafts of recruitment notices for organizing the blind association and its members, newspaper articles related to the Korean language policy at that time, in the form of a collection of materials (scrapbook).

The records were found to have damages such as tears, folds, and damages caused by tapes and metal cores used for adhesion, as some individual sheets of paper were glued together or remained inserted. Particularly, the "Maengsailji" had a unique method of binding the book by placing metal structures shaped like the letter 'ㄷ' on the top and bottom, with a metal core connecting the two metal structures. Over time, the cover of the bound records weakened, causing the top and bottom metal structures to detach. On the other hand, the "Ilji" was repaired by fixing the cover and main text with a string, and the heavily damaged book spine was restored with fabric.

It was confirmed that the paper used in the records was made solely from coniferous chemical pulp or a mixture of coniferous and deciduous pulp. The cover of the "Maengsailji" was made from paper that included original fiber, confirming the presence of raw materials in the paper. Paper made from wood pulp is prone to acidification, leading to paper deterioration, so deacidification treatment was carried out to neutralize the pH.

The "Maengsailji" was provided with a new cover and bound, while the missing parts of the "Ilji" were restored to their original form. The materials attached to the main text were reinforced through processes such as plate-making and strengthening to enhance their preservation. Individual sheets of paper were separated and preserved, and neutral paper folders were made for separate storage.

The conserved "Maengsailji" and "Ilji" will be returned to their repository, the Songam Braille Library, for future exhibition.

The artifacts related to the 'Korean Braille "Hunmeangjeongeum" Production and Distribution Artefacts,' which were designated as a national registered cultural heritage in 2020, include the "Maengsailji" and "Ilji," as well as a printing machine, a Braille typewriter, and other related items, totaling 8 items and 48 points. These artifacts were created by Park Du-seong (1888-1963), who emphasized the importance of continuous learning and independence for individuals with disabilities, tailored to the situation in Korea.