Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
  2. 2

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
  3. 3

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
  4. 4

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
  5. 5

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
  1. 6

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
  2. 7

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
  3. 8

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
  4. 9

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
  5. 10

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
지나쌤

‘Metal type believed to be world’s oldest’

By

Published : Sept. 1, 2010 - 19:52

    • Link copied

A Korean professor said Wednesday he had found the world’s oldest movable metal print type, predating “Jikji.” “Jikji” is a book printed using movable metal type which dates from 1377, during the Goryeo Kingdom.

Dabosung Antique said Nam Kwon-hee, a Kyungpook University professor, found metal printing blocks from the Goryeo Kingdom called “Jeungdoga-Ja” which predate “Jikji” by 138 years.
A metal block of “Jeungdoga-Ja” which may predate the world’s oldest movable metaltype print book, “Jikji.” Dabosung Antique A metal block of “Jeungdoga-Ja” which may predate the world’s oldest movable metaltype print book, “Jikji.” Dabosung Antique

Jikji, the world's oldest movable metal type print book Jikji, the world's oldest movable metal type print book

Previously, UNESCO had confirmed “Jikji,” the abbreviated title of a Korean Buddhist document, as the world’s oldest extant book printed with movable metal type.
If the newly found blocks are confirmed as the world’s oldest, it could change ideas about the history of printing.

“It is an important data proving the remarkable printing technique of 13th century,” wrote Kim Jong-choon, president of the Korea Antique Association, in a preface to the catalogue for the exhibition showcasing the metal types which starts Friday at Dabosung Antique in Insa-dong, Seoul.

(yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)

More from Headlines