This digitization project of these two newspapers is the first ever undertaken by the Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library.

In April 2004, the National Institute of Korean History (NIKH) approached the Library to propose the digitization of one of the East Asian Library's holdings: Minjoong Shinmoon. This was part of the NIKH's five-year project begun in 2001 to collect historical materials relating to Korean history published overseas. After reviewing our Korean collection, the Library also suggested including The New Korea Times in the same project.

The National Institute of Korean History is a South Korean government organization responsible for investigating, collecting, and compiling historical materials.