UNESCO’s Executive Board approved the establishment of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize in April 2004.
The purpose of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize is to commemorate the inscription of the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, the oldest existing book of movable metal print in the world, on the Memory of the World Register, and to reward efforts contributing to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage as a common heritage of humanity.
The objective of the Prize is in conformity with UNESCO’s policies, and is related to the programme of the Organization to foster universal access to information and knowledge.
UNESCO created the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize in 2004 to promote the preservation of documentary heritage as a common heritage of humanity and to encourage its wide accessibility. The UNESCO/Jikji Prize is named after the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, the oldest existing book of movable metal print in the world, on the Memory of the World Register. The prize is awarded to individuals, institutions, or non-governmental organizations that have made a significant contribution to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.
The Prize consists of a biennial award of US$ 30,000 to individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.
The award itself and the operating costs of the Prize as well as all costs related to the award ceremony are funded by the Republic of Korea.
The Prize is open to the governments of Member States and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) maintaining formal relations with UNESCO.
Nominations should be submitted to the Director-General.
The Memory of the World Programme is UNESCO’s flagship project for the preservation of the documentary heritage of humanity. Its Register lists documentary heritage that has been endorsed by the Director-General as corresponding to the selection criteria for world significance.
The Jikji itself contains the essentials of Zen Buddhism compiled by priest Baegun in late Goryeo period. The book was printed in two volumes. The first volume is still missing and the second volume is kept in the Bibliothèque nationale of France.