Converting Korean ezPDF Files into Adobe PDF Format
[Updated: 05/12/2022]
Many doctoral dissertations and other documents at Korean university archive websites or platforms such as RISS (
http://www.riss.kr) are in .ezPDF format instead of Adobe PDF. The Korean-made .ezPDF format includes various levels of protection via Digital Rights Management (DRM). Typically, these documents can be read using the free ezPDF Reader (
http://m.unidocs.com) and printed but cannot be converted to other formats. Additionally, the reading period for downloaded ezPDF files is often limited to 30 days.
For those needing to consult or read an .ezPDF document for more than 30 days or are using a Mac, there is no straightforward way to convert these files into another format. However, a workaround exists, though it’s not ideal, especially for lengthy documents. This process converts the text into images, resulting in a file approximately 10 times larger than the original.
Steps to Convert ezPDF to Adobe PDF
Requirements:
Windows OS (or Mac with Windows installed via VirtualBox or similar software)
ezPDF Reader application
Microsoft OneNote 2010 or 2016 (available for free at
https://www.onenote.com/download)
Instructions:
Download and Install Software:
Install the ezPDF Reader application from
http://www.ezpdf.co.kr/main/downPage/downPage.jsp.
Install Microsoft OneNote if not already installed.
Open ezPDF File:
Open your .ezPDF file using the ezPDF Reader application or directly from a website like RISS.
Print to OneNote:
In the ezPDF Reader, go to the PRINT option.
Select “Send to OneNote 2010” or “2016” as your printer driver.
Save to OneNote:
Complete the printing process. OneNote will automatically open.
Choose an “Insert” location in OneNote.
Convert to PDF or Word:
In OneNote, go to “File” > “Save as”.
Choose the “Section” you inserted earlier.
Select PDF format (or Word format, which may be faster).
Save the file to your desired location.
Additional Notes:
The conversion process may take around 20 minutes for documents with several hundred pages.
The resulting PDF file size will be significantly larger than the original .ezPDF file.
This workaround is necessary because the ezPDF format's DRM protections prevent direct conversion to other formats.
This method ensures that you can access and preserve .ezPDF documents beyond the typical 30-day limit and makes them usable on different platforms.