Jongno-gu backs revival of Joseon-era royal paper bureau after 600 years

Jojiseo, the Joseon-era state institution that once supplied paper to the royal court and government offices, is drawing renewed attention more than 600 years after its founding.

The spotlight follows Jongno-gu's announcement that it will support efforts to build a memorial hall on the site in Sinyeong-dong where the bureau once stood.

Jongno-gu District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong attended a launch ceremony for the Jojiseo memorial hall project Thursday at the district office's multipurpose hall, pledging the district's support for the initiative.

Organized by the Jojiseo Construction Promotion Committee, the event drew about 40 founding members, including artists, hanji artisans and publishers. Attendees heard a progress report on the project, listened to a reading of the founding statement and adopted a resolution reaffirming their commitment to restoring the institution's historical legacy.

Jojiseo was established in 1415 as Jojiso and operated until its closure in 1882, producing and managing paper used by the royal household and government agencies. It served as a cornerstone of Joseon's documentary culture, underpinning the dynasty's administration and publishing industry and playing a central role in preserving the nation's history and knowledge on paper.

Since the bureau closed, however, no dedicated space has existed to introduce its history or offer hands-on experiences of traditional papermaking. That absence is a key reason why Jojiseo remains little known to the public today.

Jongno-gu plans to use the memorial hall to revive awareness of Jojiseo's historical significance and promote the value of traditional hanji to residents and tourists alike. Attention is now turning to whether the site can grow into more than a tribute to the past — becoming a hub for passing traditional papermaking techniques and cultural heritage to future generations.

The project carries added significance at a time when traditional hanji manufacturing is attracting international attention and gaining momentum toward UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage designation. A Jojiseo memorial hall could serve as a venue for showcasing the history and excellence of Korea's paper culture to the world.

"We will do our part to create a memorial hall where any resident can appreciate the value of hanji and the importance of our traditional culture," District Mayor Yoo said.

Building the Jojiseo memorial hall means both restoring the history of a long-vanished state institution and reconnecting the cultural significance of paper to everyday life today. Whether the "paper of the nation" that sustained Joseon's documentary civilization can be reborn as a living cultural heritage in Jongno remains to be seen.