Bridging Artifact and Digital Content Management: Challenges in the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

Abstract. This paper examines the challenges faced by contemporary history museums in managing collections that blur boundaries between physical artifacts and digital content. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (NMKCH) serves as a case study, revealing tensions between traditional Korean heritage management systems and contemporary collecting requirements. The December 2024 martial law crisis demonstrates how historical events manifest simultaneously through physical protests and digital activism, creating hybrid materials that resist traditional categorization. Analysis reveals that bifurcated management systems fragment historical records and impede comprehensive documentation. While technical solutions offer operational improvements, fundamental conceptual shifts are needed in museum practice. NMKCH's planned Center for Contemporary History Collections and Archives (2030) represents institutional recognition of these challenges, proposing integrated approaches to contemporary history documentation. This research contributes to understanding collection management practices for hybrid materials in the digital age.