Cheongju Early Printing Museum

hyolee2 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Where the world's oldest book printed with movable metal type was made — 78 years before Gutenberg.

In 1377, at Heungdeoksa temple in Cheongju, monks printed the 'Jikji' using movable metal type — seventy-eight years before the Gutenberg Bible. The only surviving copy is in the National Library of France, so the museum built on the temple's foundations displays a facsimile alongside the whole process of casting, setting and printing. There is a workshop where you can print a page yourself from a wooden block. For anyone who loves books, this is one of the most worthwhile addresses in Korea.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Cheongju Early Printing Museum?

Year-round

How long do you need at Cheongju Early Printing Museum?

1.5 hours

What are the opening hours of Cheongju Early Printing Museum?

09:00–18:00 year-round; closed Mondays, 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok

Did you know

The 'Jikji' was printed in 1377 and joined UNESCO's Memory of the World register in 2001.
It predates the Gutenberg Bible by about 78 years.
The only surviving original is held by the National Library of France.
The museum stands on the site of Heungdeoksa temple, rediscovered in 1985.

Travel tips

There is a hands-on printing workshop, good for children.
English guided tours need booking in advance.
Cheongju is about 1.5 hours from Seoul by train.

Source: https://www.cheongju.go.kr/jikjiworld/contents.do?key=17472

Updated: 2026-08-04