Koreans manufactured the metal type early in the 12th century, the period of Koryo Kingdom (918-1392), for the first time in the world and thus made a big contribution to the typographic development of mankind.

The metal type, a product of the Koryo people's tireless efforts and study, shows well the wisdom and talents of the Korean nation who has won a reputation from the ancient times.

The book "Jikjisimgyong", published by Koryo in 1377, is the oldest one among those printed with metal types in the world. At the exhibition "History of Books" held in Paris of France under the sponsorship of UNESCO in Juche 61 (1972) as an event of "International Year of Books", this book proved that Korea is the first inventor of metal type in the world.

It is said that the metal type was invented in Netherlands in 1423 and in Germany in 1450.