Abstract

Digital archives serve as tools for preserving and accessing records online, expanding across diverse domains, including arts, science, and business. While these archives are implemented and operated in various forms, such as web pages, bulletin boards, and records management systems, a lack of a clear conceptual framework for digital archives and limitations in applying archival theory exist. This study proposes a methodology for evaluating digital archives from the perspectives of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR), analyzing FAIR data principle adherence across 69 domestic digital archives. The findings indicate that domestic digital archives in South Korea generally fail to adequately reflect the FAIR data principles. Among the 261 digital archives examined, 74% demonstrate limitations in search and access, while the 69 archives selected for detailed evaluation achieved an average FAIR score of 50.43. Notably, the metrics for interoperability and reusability demonstrated significantly low performance levels across the evaluated archives. Digital archives must transcend their function as mere record provision tools to serve as essential extensions of records management. This transformation necessitates systematic research and improvements focusing on applying FAIR data principles to enhance their effectiveness.