The extant records cover the last 150 years of the Joseon dynasty, from 1760 to 1910.

[4] The Ilseongnok is a vital historical record, and along with the Joseon Wangjo Sillok, the Seungjeongwon ilgi, and the Bibyeonsa Teungrok, constitutes one of the primary historical sources for the study of the period.

[5] Ilseongnok began as the personal diary of King Jeongjo, and was collected even before he ascended the throne in 1776.

In 1781, he expressed interest in having his diary be made available to and continued by his successors.

He reportedly considered calling the text either Ilseongnok, Wolgyerok (월계록; 月計錄), or Ilwoltongpyeon (일월통편; 日月通編; combined meaning of the two previous names), but decided against the latter name because it was already used by another text.