<2013.05.08>
The Harry Ransom Center, located at Texas State University, is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading cultural archives.
It functions as a globally respected library, museum, and research center, holding over 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs, and 36 million manuscripts.
Among its most prominent treasures is the Gutenberg 42-line Bible, which the center proudly showcases.
The center even made the contents of the Gutenberg Bible accessible online, earning widespread attention—including a feature on CNN.
However, the Harry Ransom Center’s website had inaccurately stated that the Gutenberg Bible was the world’s first book printed using movable metal type.
This statement overlooked the fact that movable metal type printing was first invented in Korea, and that Korea had produced printed texts using metal movable type as early as the 12th century, such as the Nammyongcheon Hwasang Songjeungdoga, and most notably, Jikji, printed in 1377—78 years earlier than Gutenberg’s Bible. Jikji is recognized by UNESCO as the oldest existing book printed with movable metal type.
This factual error was discovered in March by Choi Ye-jin, a second-year student at Gyeongnam Foreign Language High School, while participating in VANK’s cyber diplomatic training program.
She reported the issue in her activity report, prompting VANK to take action.
Thanks to her keen observation and VANK’s response, this historically significant error is now being addressed to ensure that Korea’s contributions to world heritage are accurately represented.
As shown in the image above, the center initially stated the incorrect claim that
“The Gutenberg Bible is the first complete book printed with moveable metal type.”
After Choi Ye-jin reported this through her activity report to VANK, a VANK researcher sent an official email to the center explaining that this was a clear factual error and must be corrected.
In response, Richard Oram, Associate Director of the museum, replied via email, expressing appreciation for VANK’s input and acknowledging the significance of inventions in the East.
However, he explained that the page was not intended to present a full history of printing, but only to provide a brief introduction to the artifact—the Gutenberg Bible.
Dear Hyeon Lim,
Thank you for your feedback on your site. I am aware of the important inventions in the Orient long before Gutenberg. However, we are not setting out to provide a detailed history of printing from the beginning but instead a brief introduction to a particular artifact, our copy of the Gutenberg Bible.
regards,
The VANK researcher responded again, clarifying that they were not requesting the inclusion of Jikji or Korean printing history on the page,
but simply pointing out that the existing sentence was factually incorrect and needed to be revised.
Additionally, it was explained that the “Jikji” is the world’s oldest existing book printed with movable metal type, and that the technology originated in Korea in the 12th century with the creation of “Jeungdoga type”,
so describing the Gutenberg Bible as the first ever book printed with movable type was a clear historical inaccuracy.
A few days later, Associate Director Oram responded again, thanking VANK for their input and informing them that the sentence had been revised as follows:
Following Wikipedia’s lead, I am changing the sentence to
The Gutenberg Bible is the first substantial book printed in the West with moveable metal type.
thanks for your input,
Richard Oram
Finally, as of May 8, VANK confirmed that the error on the website has been successfully corrected.
If you would like to confirm the correction yourself, please visit the following URL:
🔗 http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/gutenbergbible/
This marks yet another successful correction that helps to properly introduce Korea’s proud cultural heritage—movable metal type printing and Jikji—to the world.
VANK will continue its efforts to raise global awareness of Korea’s history and cultural legacy!