Heungdeoksa Temple site

Heungdeoksa Temple Site, located in Heungdeok-gu, South Korea, is the ruins of a Buddhist temple that existed during the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods. The temple was constructed before 848 and destroyed by fire in the late 1370s. Its exact location remained unknown until 1985 when relics were discovered during land development by the Korean Land Development Corporation. Cheongju University conducted excavations, uncovering a bronze gong and bowl with inscriptions confirming the site as Heungdeoksa Temple.

The area was designated a historic site (No. 315) on May 7, 1986. Replicas of a Buddhist prayer hall and three-story stone pagoda were built based on excavation findings. The temple is significant for its connection to the Buljojikjisimcheyojeol, the world’s oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, compiled by monk Baegun in 1374. Printed in 1377 under King Uwang, it predates the Gutenberg Bible by 78 years. Acquired by a French diplomat in 1887, the book is now at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Recognized as the world’s oldest printed book in 1972 and listed in UNESCO Memory of the World in 2001, it highlights Korea’s early printing achievements.

Adjacent to the site, the Cheongju Early Printing Museum opened on March 17, 1992, promoting Korea's historic printing culture.