On the problem of the origin and development of printing in Korea: a historical cultural study

The paper is devoted to the problem of the origin and development of printing in East Asia, in particular, to a controversial issue of the priority in the invention of movable metal type. The aim of this work is to attempt to overcome the negative factors of a Europe-centered approach in this problem by considering the main features of the development of printing in China and Korea. These countries have played a great role in the propagation and improvement of printing. The major historical cultural features of Korean printing related to the significance of Buddhism and Confucianism as ideological stimuli in its development are analyzed in this work.