Cheongju Early Printing Museum

This museum specializes in ancient printing and was built on the site of Heungdeoksa Temple during the Goryeo dynasty, where "Baekunhwasangsorok Buljo Jikji Simtaeyoseol," the world's oldest metal type book and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was printed. "Jikjisimgyeong" or "Jikji," as it is shortened to, was printed in 1377 at the end of the Goryeo dynasty and collected information on "Seon," the highest virtue in Buddhism. This type book was printed 70 years earlier than the German "Gutenberg Bible," known as the world's first metal type book, but the original "Jikji" is currently kept at the National Museum of France.

Kotokuji Temple Site (photo shows main hall)

The museum, which has one basement floor and three above ground floors, preserves and displays over 1 items, including ancient books such as woodblock prints, metal type prints, and wooden type prints from the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon dynasties, as well as artifacts excavated from the Heungdeoksa Temple site and printing machines.