Many people still believe that the Gutenberg Bible is the world’s oldest book printed with movable metal type because history textbooks around the world do not mention Jikji. So, I launched a campaign to correct misinformation about Jikji and to promote its universal value to influential websites around the world.

 

During my search, I found an international facts and trivia website “Did you Know?” (didyouknow.cd), misinforming its readers that Gutenberg invented movable metal type in Mainz, Germany. I emailed them to let them know that Jikji, printed in Korea in 1377, preceding the printing of the Gutenberg Bible in 1455, is the world’s oldest extant book printed with movable metal type.

 

A few days later, I received a response: “Thank you for visiting and many thanks for the information. The updates will be made soon.”

 

The website now introduces Jikji in its section about the history of the printing press:

“Park Gi Tae from VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea) contributed as follows: Jikji is the oldest book made by metalloid type. It was made in 1377, 78 years earlier than the 42-Line Bible by Gutenberg.”

 

It not only included information about Jikji but it also included my name and VANK as a contributor.

 

I started the Jikji PR campaign because Jikji deserves global recognition. With VANK members, I will continue to promote Jikji and Korea’s cultural heritage to the world. We added Jikji in Wikipedia, the most popular free online encyclopedia in the world, with a description that UNESCO recognized it as the world’s oldest existing book of movable metal type print. Also, we publish and distribute brochures, postcards, and digital infographics about Jikji to schools, libraries, museums, and publishers around the world.