The study is to trace the origin of the Hongmunkwan ana discuss its development and roles assigned in each succeeding stages of the history. The Hongmunkwan lived a long life through Koryo and Yi dynasties. It was a multi-functioned institution designed as a royal library, an educational institution, and a political reference center. Prior to the Hongmunkwan, there were some established institution with similar functions to its ones during the Three-Kingdom Era. One of such kind was the Sungmunkwan(崇文館), which was eventually renamed the Hongmunkwan by King Songjong(成宗) of Koryo in 995, and a distinguished scholar-minister was appointed at the position of directorship for management of the now status-raised institution where state documents and books were housed. The Hongmunkwan experienced some reforms during its long life. In 1420, King Sejong(世宗) of Yi Dynasty founded the Jipyonjon(集賢殿) within the royal palace in place of the Hongmunkwan. The Jipyonjon was an innovated Hongmunkwan where many scriptures were stored and distinguished scholars and officials studied on them, sometimes delivering lectures to the king. King Sejo(世祖) abolished the Jipyonjon in his second year(1456) and reestablished the Hongmunkwan designed as a royal library in place of the former in his ninth year. King Songjong(成宗) in his 10th year (1479) of the reign, reformed the Yemunkwan(藝文館), which existed from the beginning of the Yi dynasty, by extending its functions and afterwards absorbed it into the Hongmunkwan together with the functions of the former Jibhyonjon which were included in the Yemunkwan. He founded another Yemunkwan which had the roles of drafings and descriptions of royal decrees. In the 10th year (1504) of Yonsankun(燕山君), the Hongmunkwan was abolished and instead of it the Jindokchong(進讀廳) was founded with less authority and functions. But shortly after that, King Jungjong(中宗) refounded the Hongmunkwan with the same scale, same authority and same functions as the former, one. As the Hongmunkwan also had a function of the royal library it collected and kept numerous books and writings in it. Some books and writings of the Hongmunkwan were composed of those which had been transmitted from the Koryo Dynasty and the others were composed of those which had been collected in the country or purchased by the trade with China in the Yi dynasty. Also newly-compiled important books in the country were reprinted and one of them were send to the Hongmunkwan. In the 8th year (1784) of King Jongjo(正祖), the history of the Hongmunkwan, entitled the Hongmunkwanji(弘文館志), was written and editioned by the royal decree and it was reeditioned the 7th year (1870) of King Kojong(高宗). The Hongmunkwan was absorbed into the Kyujanggak(奎章閣) in 1907.