Cheongju Heungdeoksa Temple Site (청주 흥덕사지)

17.0 Km 21014 2020-03-27

713, Jikji-daero, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-43-201-2022

A large number of relics were unearthed at this site due to a land development project in 1985. Work was halted and relics were excavated by the Cheongju University Museum. The time and size of Heungdeoksa Temple is unknown, but according to Jikji (Buljojikjisimcheyojeol, the world’s oldest existing book printed with movable metal type), the excavated books were printed using metal types at the temple in the third year of King Uwang’s reign (1377). The books were published 78 years earlier than Gutenberg’s invention.

In 1972, the Jikji was officially recognized as the world’s oldest book printed with movable metal type during the International Book Year. The Buljojikjisimcheyojeol is currently kept at the National Library of France.

Jincheon Bell Museum (진천 종박물관)

17.0 Km 7975 2021-06-29

1504-12, Baekgok-ro, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-43-539-3847

The Jincheon Bell Museum opened in 2005 with the objective of promoting the unique artistic value of Korean bells. The museum’s location itself is also very meaningful, as Jincheon is home to the oldest steel production site in Korea. In the nearby area, Uncheon-dong, Beomjong (a temple bell) of the late United Silla Kingdom was discovered along with the remains of the Ongdusaji Cheoldanggan of the Goryeo dynasty.

Cheongju Early Printing Museum(청주고인쇄박물관)

17.1 Km 0 2023-10-26

713, Jikji-daero, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

The city of Cheongju, together with UNESCO, commemorates the inscription of "Jikji" onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and presents the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation and utilization of the UNESCO Memory of the World, thereby promoting the great cultural heritage of Cheongju, the birthplace of movable metal type, and Korea in general. “Jikji,” or Jikji Simche Yojeol: Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings, is the oldest book in the world to be printed with movable metal type.
The Exhibition Center for Modern and Contemporary Printing introduces how the history of Korean printing has developed, starting from the introduction of lead type at the end of the 19th Century to the present-day Korean printing technology and its future directions. It is a place where one can learn how the Korean printing culture came to be in modern times, and what directions it will take as the world moves forward. Printing experience classes for children, families, and adults are available. They are expected to assist the visitors in understanding modern and contemporary printing culture.

Cheongju Early Printing Museum (Heungdeoksaji Temple Site) (청주 고인쇄박물관(흥덕사지))

17.1 Km 18778 2019-03-19

713, Jikji-daero, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-43-201-4266

This early printing museum, located on the site of Heungdeoksa Temple in which Jikji, the world's oldest extant book, printed by movable metal type, was printed, was founded on March 17, 1992. Since the technology’s inception, Korea has substantially developed its metal-type printing methods. In this museum, approximately 650 artifacts including ancient movable metal and wooden print books from the Goryeo and Joseon periods, relics from the Heungdeoksaji Temple site (흥덕사지) and printing tools are on display. Here, visitors can learn about the history of the Korean printing technologies and culture.

In addition to exhibition, the museum has been promoted to hold the Cheongju International Printing & Publishing Fair, to study early printing culture and printing types and to publish museum journals and early printing-related papers.