680,000 National Heritage Digital Records Now Open... AI Answers Archaeology Questions

New Services Introduced, Including 'Memory Heritage' in 3D

New Menu for 'National Heritage Digital Service': Joseon Dynasty Political and Military Affairs. Provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on December 30 that it has completely revamped the 'National Heritage Digital Service' website and will additionally release 200,000 digital records.

This overhaul is the largest since the service launched in May last year, with the number of national heritage records increasing significantly from 480,000 to 680,000.

The Cultural Heritage Administration is introducing the 'Korean Archaeology Dictionary,' a chatbot service that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Developed in collaboration with the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, this service is based on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology. When users ask questions related to the Paleolithic or Bronze Age, the AI provides summarized answers based on documentary evidence and other sources.

New content has also been added. The 'Joseon Dynasty Political and Military Affairs' menu, which allows users to view detailed facilities of Namhansanseong, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the 'Maritime Heritage: Traditional Ships' section, featuring the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship-a symbol of Korea-Japan exchange-and maritime heritage from Taean, have been newly established.

The 'Memory Heritage' service has also been launched, allowing users to view three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of cultural heritage sites damaged by disasters, such as the Yeonsujeon Hall at Gowunsa Temple in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, and the Sanam Historic House in Cheongsong, which were affected by a major wildfire in March.

In addition, the administration is releasing 'Korea’s Natural Heritage' content, which enables users to experience scenic sites and natural monuments in virtual reality (VR), as well as 3D asset data that can be used in entertainment industries such as games and movies.

Meanwhile, the Cultural Heritage Administration has also reorganized its structure to accelerate this digital transformation. By revising the 'Enforcement Rule on the Organization of the Cultural Heritage Administration and Its Affiliated Agencies,' it will abolish the existing 'National Heritage Industry Promotion Team' and establish a new 'National Heritage Artificial Intelligence Strategy Team.'

A representative from the Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We will continue to expand our data resources to both preserve the original value of national heritage and present diverse possibilities for its use," adding, "We will pursue digital administration that contributes to the global spread of K-culture."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.