A South Korean civic group says it will submit a petition to the Japanese government to have a Joseon Dynasty royal record returned to Korea.

The committee on reclaiming the Joseon Wangsil Uigwe said Wednesday that it will present the petition when members of the civic group go to Japan on Friday to visit the Japanese prime minister’s office.

The visit was organized by a Japanese civic organization that has been working with the Korean group for the past three years in seeking the return of the Joseon Wangsil Uigwe, which is a thorough record of royal ceremonies and rituals. It was taken by the Japanese colonial government in 1922.

An official of the Korean civic group said the group decided to submit the petition as Japan’s chief cabinet secretary and other top government officials recently hinted at the possibility of returning cultural assets.

The official also expressed hope that the royal records would be returned before August 29th, when South Korea marks the 100th anniversary of Japan’s forced annexation.