Be a History Maker

Discover the Memory of the World that We All Should Recognize!

On this map, you will see important documentary heritage that connects the past, present, and future by delivering historical knowledge and wisdom to the next generations. Our ancestors’ dedication to documentation allows history to transcend time and space and motivates us to build upon the past for a better world.

UNESCO runs the Memory of the World Program to preserve, protect, and pass down the world’s documentary heritage to the next generations. UNESCO’s International Center for Documentary Heritage will be established in Cheongju, the home of Jikji, the oldest extant book printed with movable metal type. With the center in its city, Korea will play a significant role in preserving and promoting the value of the world’s documentary heritage.

VANK hopes Koreans will make their mark in the world by using the ancestral wisdom that was handed down with our heritage, such as movable metal type, the Korean alphabet Hangeul, the Annals of the Choson (Joseon) Dynasty, Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine), and the Tripitaka Koreana. Our future depends on what we do now to change the world. A new chapter in history begins with steps toward our dreams to create a better world!
The record of our dreams will become history.
Record your dreams to serve your country and the world!
We are the ones who make history.

Momory of the World in Korea

1. Hunminjeongum Manuscript (1997)
The world’s only alphabet whose creator and purpose of creation are known

2. Joseon Wangjo Sillok  (1997)
The world’s longest continuous record of a single dynasty, covering all 500 years of Joseon

3. Jikji (2001)
The Oldest Extant Book Printed with Movable Metal Type

4 Seungjeongwon Ilgi (2001)
The world’s longest continuous record of kings’ daily life

5. Printing woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana and miscellaneous Buddhist scriptures(2007)
The world’s most comprehensive Tripitaka, written in 52 million characters, in hope of protecting the nation

6. Uigwe (2007)
Detailed record of the Joseon Dynasty’s royal protocols for 500 years

7. Donguibogam (2009)
The most comprehensive medical book, compiling 2,000 years of Eastern medicine knowledge

8. Ilseongnok  (2011)
Daily Accounts of Kings’ Self-Reflection Ilseongnok

9. Human Rights Documentary Heritage 1980 Archives (2011)
Record of fights to protect fundamental human rights

10. Nanjung Ilgi (2013)
Daily Accounts of an Admiral’s Self-Reflection during a War

11. Archives of Saemaul Undong (2013)
Evidence of Hope to End Global Poverty

12. Archives of KBS Special Live Broadcasting ‘Finding Dispersed Families’ (2015)
Videotapes of the reunions of 7.6 million Koreans separated from their families. Deliver hope for unification and peace.

13. Confucian Printing Woodblocks in Korea  (2015)
The collection of knowledge that was created, edited, and published by Confucian scholars for 500 years during Joseon

14. Archives of the National Debt Redemption Movement (2017)
A record of a nationwide donation campaign to recover economic sovereignty

15. Documents on Joseon Tongsinsa/Chosen Tsushinshi (2017)
A record of Joseon’s 12 diplomatic missions to Edo Japan between 1607 and 1811

16. Royal Seal and Investiture Book Collection of the Joseon Dynasty (2017)
A royal record that was kept for 570 years from 1392 to 1966.