Annals of Joseon Dynasty is the most important primary source to study history of Joseon, with very high credibility - even the Kings were forbidden to read the records of his own reign for that purpose.

Joseon established four different sites to store copies of Annals of Joseon Dynasty, namely Chunchugwan (of Seoul), Chungju County, Jeonju County and Seongju County. All three except Jeonju County site were burned down in Japanese invasion in 1592~1598. Joseon printed five more copies after the war and stored them in Chunchugwan, Mt. Myohyang, Mt. Taebaek, Mt. Odae and Mt. Mari. Chunchugwan copy was lost in 1624, in the Treason of Yi Gwal. Part of Mt. Mari copy was lost in 1638 Manchus invasion and moved to Mt. Jeongjok in 1678. Mt. Myohyang copy was moved to Mt. Jeokseong in 1633.

The copies of Annals of Joseon Dynasty were preserved to the end of Joseon Dynasty. In Japanese Colonial Period, Japanese moved Mt. Odae copy to Tokyo University but soon lost in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923.

Annals of Joseon Dynasty is written in Classical Chinese; it was translated into modern Korean in the 1980s in North Korea and in 1994 in South Korea.

Part of Annals of Joseon Dynasty is scanned by Seoul National University and available for online.

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