A Korean historian says he has discovered a diary kept by a Joseon Dynasty's envoy to France in the early 20th century.

Yang Ji-wook, a researcher at Sun Moon University, said he found the three-volume diary at an old bookstore in Seoul in June.

According to the researcher, Minister Kim Man-soo, who was Emperor Gojong's envoy to France, kept the diary from April 14th, 1901 to February 14th, 1902.

In the diary, the diplomat wrote that he had to borrow money from a private lender because of suspended financial support from his home government in an indication of the financial status of the Joseon Dynasty.

Yang said that Kim's diary also provides a rare glimpse into Korea-France relations in its early years.