연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-07-08 10:10:52
SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- A new study has identified a previously unconfirmed type of Joseon Dynasty metal movable type among a cache unearthed in central Seoul about five years ago, offering fresh clues to Korea's early printing culture.
The finding is expected to spur further research into the history of movable metal type and the record-keeping culture of the Joseon Dynasty.
According to the academic community Wednesday, Lee Jae-jung, a former curator at the National Museum of Korea, reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Studies in Bibliography, published by the Bibliographical Society of Korea, that he had identified "Gyechukja," a type of metal movable type cast in 1493, among the artifacts excavated from the Gongpyeong area in Seoul.
More than 1,600 pieces of early Joseon metal movable type, believed to date from the 15th and 16th centuries, were discovered in jars during an excavation near Tapgol Park in Seoul's Insadong area in 2021.
At the time, researchers identified several well-known types, including "Gapinja," cast in 1434, "Eulhaeja," cast in 1455, and "Eulyuja," produced in 1465. Joseon metal type is generally named after the sexagenary cycle designation of the year in which it was cast.
Drawing on excavation reports, photographs and drawings, Lee, who spent more than two decades studying movable type artifacts at the National Museum of Korea, reexamined the collection.
After reassessing the artifacts whose forms could be clearly identified, he revised the total number of individual pieces from 1,650 to 1,657.
Lee focused on 54 large and small pieces whose classification had remained uncertain. Previously thought to be Eulhaeja, Eulyuja or Gyeongjaja, cast in 1420, the types are now believed to be Gyechukja.
The large Gyechukja type measures an average of 2.1 centimeters wide and 1.7 centimeters high, while the smaller type averages about 1.0 centimeter by 1.3 centimeters.
Lee said he compared the excavated types with printed editions of the historical works "Jachitonggam Gangmok" and "Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam," both produced using Gyechukja, and found matching characters.
"Gyechukja was used only for a short period, and books printed with it are relatively rare. No physical examples had been identified until now," Lee told Yonhap News Agency.
He added that Gyechukja is distinguishable from other types because its large characters are exceptionally large and the size ratio between its large and small characters differs noticeably from other typefaces.
Lee said the study confirmed that the metal movable types unearthed from the Gongpyeong site span roughly 60 years, from Gapinja cast in 1434 to Gyechukja cast in 1493.
He also argued that the physical design of Joseon metal type changed significantly after Gapinja.
According to Lee, the reverse side of Gapinja type varied in design, including square grooves, cross-shaped grooves and vertical tunnel-shaped grooves. Later types, however, adopted more standardized forms, with vertical tunnel grooves for large and medium-sized types and horizontal tunnel grooves for smaller ones.
He suggested the change may have reflected improvements in casting efficiency, as Gapinja's more complex design, while helping speed up typesetting, was more difficult to manufacture.
Lee acknowledged that his study was limited because he did not have direct access to the original artifacts.
The metal types excavated in Insadong were transferred to the National Palace Museum of Korea last year.
Although the museum published a paper last year analyzing the materials and manufacturing characteristics of the artifacts, follow-up research has yet to begin in earnest.
That study concluded the types were unlikely to have been used because they had been deliberately buried in earthenware jars and still retained casting sprues that had not been removed through finishing.
Lee said he hopes future studies will involve direct examination of the original artifacts and comparisons with surviving printed books to produce more detailed findings.
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]