Cheongju Early Printing Museum is the best place in the city to understand Jikji, the oldest known surviving book printed with movable metal type. The book was produced at Heungdeoksa Temple in Cheongju in 1377, decades before the Gutenberg Bible.
This is more than a room filled with old books. The displays explain how metal characters were cast, arranged, inked and pressed onto paper, while the neighboring Heungdeoksa Temple Site connects that history to the place where Jikji was printed. Admission is free, making the museum one of the most worthwhile indoor attractions in Cheongju.
Korean name: 청주고인쇄박물관
Main subject: Jikji and Korean printing history
Address: 713 Jikji-daero, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju
Hours: 09:00–18:00
Regular closures: Mondays and January 1
Seollal and Chuseok: Opens from 14:00 on the holiday itself
Admission: Free
Parking: Free
Recommended time: 1.5–2 hours
Hours, closures, holiday opening, admission and parking were checked against current Cheongju city tourism and VISITKOREA listings. Temporary notices and experience programs can still change.
Location and directions
The museum is in Heungdeok-gu, west of central Cheongju. It stands beside the Heungdeoksa Temple Site, so both places can be visited without moving the car. Search for 청주고인쇄박물관 in Naver Map or KakaoMap for current public transport directions.
713 Jikji-daero,
Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si,
Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
Korean address:
충청북도 청주시 흥덕구 직지대로 713
Information: 043-201-4266
Directions to Cheongju Early Printing Museum
The museum is inside the city rather than at a remote heritage site. A taxi is straightforward, while local bus routes should be checked on the day of travel because schedules and stop assignments can change.
What is Jikji?
Jikji is the shortened name of Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo Jikji Simche Yojeol, a collection of Buddhist teachings compiled by the monk Baegun. The movable-metal-type edition was printed at Heungdeoksa Temple in July 1377 during the Goryeo period.
Only the second volume of the metal-type edition survives. It is held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, so the original is not displayed in Cheongju. The museum uses reproductions, printing materials and historical exhibits to explain why the document matters.
Jikji is described as the oldest known surviving book printed with movable metal type. Earlier Korean metal-type printing is recorded, but no earlier complete printed book has survived in the same way.
Jikji and the Gutenberg Bible
Jikji was printed in 1377, while the Gutenberg Bible dates from around the mid-1450s. The commonly used comparison is a difference of about 78 years. The technologies developed in different historical settings, so the comparison is most useful as a timeline rather than a claim that the two printing traditions were identical.
The museum makes that achievement easier to understand by showing the labor behind each page. Individual characters had to be made, sorted into the correct order, inked and printed before they could be reused for another text.
UNESCO Memory of the World recognition
Jikji was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2001. UNESCO also created the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize in 2004 to recognize work that preserves documentary heritage and improves public access to it.
This recognition concerns documentary heritage rather than a physical UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors sometimes confuse the two systems, but the museum explains why a printed document can hold global historical value.
Heungdeoksa Temple Site
The museum's location is part of the story. Although Jikji states that it was printed at Heungdeoksa, the exact position of the temple was lost for centuries. Archaeological remains discovered during development work in 1985 led to excavations, and artifacts bearing the temple's name helped confirm the site.
Walk outside after seeing the main exhibits. The temple site is quieter and less visually dramatic than the museum, but it gives the visit a real geographical anchor: this is the area where the 1377 edition was made.
What to see inside the museum
The exhibitions move from the story of Jikji into the wider history of Korean printing. Expect to see old books, metal and wooden type, woodblock printing, tools and objects excavated from Heungdeoksa. The collection also helps visitors compare different ways of reproducing text before modern mechanical printing.
The most useful displays are the ones that break the process into stages. A finished page can look simple, but the preparation required careful casting, sorting and alignment. Looking closely at the individual characters makes the technology feel far more concrete.
Printing experiences and guided interpretation
Printing activities, demonstrations and children's programs may be offered through the museum complex or Cheongju's reservation system. These are scheduled programs rather than permanent guarantees. If an activity is the main reason for your visit, check availability and reservation requirements before traveling.
The nearby modern and contemporary printing exhibition facilities extend the story into lead type, machinery and later publishing technology. Facility access and holiday schedules can differ, so treat them as an optional addition rather than assuming every building will follow the same timetable.
Current hours, admission and parking
09:00–18:00
Regular closures
Every Monday and January 1
Seollal and Chuseok
Opens from 14:00 on the holiday itself
Admission
Free
Parking
Free
Temporary operations can still change for maintenance or special events. Check the latest city or museum notice before a holiday visit.
Around 90 minutes is enough for the main galleries at a comfortable pace. Allow two hours if you also want to walk through the Heungdeoksa Temple Site. Families joining a program or visitors exploring additional printing facilities may need longer.
An easy first-time route
Learn the basic history of Jikji and remember the year 1377.
2. Jikji exhibition
See reproductions and understand why only Volume II survives.
3. Metal-type displays
Follow the casting, arranging and printing process.
4. Heungdeoksa artifacts
Connect the document with archaeological evidence.
5. Temple site
Walk outside to the historical printing location.
6. Optional modern printing exhibits
Continue only if the facilities are open and you have enough time.
Families, accessibility and rainy days
The museum works well for families because children can see the steps behind printing instead of only reading dates. Start with the Jikji story, move to the metal characters and finish with an activity if one is operating. That sequence makes the technology easier to follow.
Most of the main visit is indoors, so this is a practical Cheongju rainy-day attraction. Visitors with limited mobility should confirm the current accessibility of outdoor archaeological areas and any separate exhibition buildings. The main galleries are the priority if time or mobility is limited.
Nearby places to combine with the museum
- Heungdeoksa Temple Site: The essential outdoor stop beside the museum.
- Ullidan Street: A nearby neighborhood area for cafés and a meal.
- MMCA Cheongju: A strong follow-up for modern and contemporary art.
- Yukgeori Traditional Market: A good option for local food and market atmosphere.
An easy half-day plan is Cheongju Early Printing Museum → Heungdeoksa Temple Site → Ullidan Street → MMCA Cheongju. It moves naturally from Goryeo printing history to a local neighborhood and contemporary art without requiring a long trip outside the city.
Cheongju Early Printing Museum FAQ
Is Jikji older than the Gutenberg Bible?
Yes. Jikji was printed in 1377, about 78 years before the Gutenberg Bible. It is recognized as the oldest known surviving book printed with movable metal type.
Is the original Jikji displayed in Cheongju?
No. The surviving second volume of the metal-type edition is held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The Cheongju museum explains its history through reproductions, artifacts and printing exhibits.
Is Cheongju Early Printing Museum free?
Yes. Current visitor information lists free general admission and free parking.
How long should I spend at the museum?
Allow about 90 minutes for the main museum or around two hours when including the Heungdeoksa Temple Site.
Is the museum open on Monday?
No. Monday is the regular closure day, and the museum also closes on January 1. On Seollal and Chuseok, current visitor information lists opening from 14:00 on the holiday itself.
Do not finish the visit after seeing the main galleries. Walk to the Heungdeoksa Temple Site and look back at the museum story from the place where Jikji was actually printed. That short outdoor stop makes the history much easier to remember.
Official and authoritative information:
Cheongju city tourism: Cheongju Early Printing Museum
VISITKOREA visitor information
Bibliothèque nationale de France: Jikji
UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize
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