This small museum tells you everything about the Jikji, the oldest book in the world printed with movable metal type. Unfortunately the book is not here – it’s in the National Library of France. Still, the museum exhibits many early books of Korea, including handwritten sutras and books printed using woodblocks, and there is extensive information in English. Book nerds will be enthralled by the slightly creepy Korean-speaking wax models that replicate the various steps in the creation of the Jikji .
Look out for Korea’s oldest printed document, the Dharani Sutra, dating back to at least AD 751. It’s accompanied by the woodblocks used in its creation.
The museum stands beside the site of Heungdeok-sa , where the Jikji was printed and where you can find a replica temple. To get there, catch bus 831 or 831-1 (₩1300, 15 minutes) from the bus stop opposite the tourist information centre. Get off at the bus stop beside the pedestrian bridge with green and yellow arches. The museum is about 50m ahead on the left.
