Korea has a tradition that is the same as the suzerain of the printing culture, and has had an outstanding type of printing technology that was unprecedented in any other country in the world. Having a long history and glorious tradition of type printing, Korea has the world's oldest wood type printed matter, Mu-gu-jeong-guang-dea-dharani-gyung, and metal type printed matter, Jik-ji-shim-che-yo-jeol.

Printed before the year 751, Mu-gu-Jeong-guang-dae-dharani-gyung is recognized as the world's oldest wood type printed matter that is currently existent. Dharani scripture is printed, 8-9 characters per line, on a roll of paper having the size of 8 cm width, and 620 cm total length. It was found in October 1996, and was designated as National Treasure No. 126-6.

Printed with metal types in 1399, which was 78 years earlier than the 42-line Gutenberg Bible, Jik-ji-shim-che-yo-jeol is recognized as the world's oldest metal type printed matter that is currently existent. It was registered as a UNESCO memory of the World, while its original version (the last volume) is now being kept in the French National Library.