UNESCO Prizes created by Korea:
Jikji Memory of the World Prize



About the Prize

In April 2004 UNESCO’s Executive Board approved the establishment of a Memory of the World 
Prize to further promote the objectives of the Memory of the World Programme and to commemorate 
the inscription of the Jikji, the oldest known book of movable metal print in the world.

The Prize consisting of an award of US$ 30,000 will be given every two years 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 will be funded by the Republic of Korea.

The Memory of the World has national committees in several Member States and regional 
committees in Asia/Pacific and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Memory of the 
World Register lists documentary heritage that has been identified by the International Advisory 
Committee as corresponding to the selection criteria for world significance and endorsed by 
the Director-General.

Today 158 collections including the book "Buljo jikji simche yojeol", also called Jikji, are 
inscribed on the Register.

The Jikji contains the essentials of Zen Buddhism compiled by priest Baegun in late 
Goryeo period. The book was printed in two volumes. The first volume has not been found yet 
and the second volume is being kept in the Bibliotheque nationale of France.

Statutes

These Statutes have been adopted by the Executive Board at its 169th session, April 2004.

1. Purpose 

The purpose of the Prize is to commemorate the inscription of the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, 
the oldest known book of movable metal print in the world, in the Memory of the World Register, 
and to contribute to the preservation of documentary heritage as a common heritage of 
humanity and to its accessibility.

2. Designation, amount and periodicity of the Prize

The Prize shall be entitled “The UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize”.

The Prize shall be funded by the Republic of Korea through arrangements made with the 
Municipal Council of Cheongju City and shall consist of a sum of US $30,000 for each 
UNESCO biennium.

The Prize shall be awarded on an initial basis for five biennia. The operating costs of the Prize 
and also all costs related to the award ceremony shall be fully covered by the Republic of Korea.

Should the Republic of Korea decide to terminate the prize, any surplus funds for the prize 
in UNESCO’s accounts shall be returned to it.

3. Conditions

The candidates shall be persons (juridical or natural) who have made a significant contribution 
to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.

4. Designation of the prizewinner

The prizewinner shall be designated by the Director-General of UNESCO, on the recommendation 
of the Jury of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize.

5. Jury

The Jury shall consist of all the members of the International Advisory Committee of the 
Memory of the World Programme, sitting as the Jury of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the 
World Prize. The quorum for the Jury shall be seven members.

The Jury shall adopt its own working procedures in conformity with these Statutes and 
shall be assisted by a member of the UNESCO Secretariat designated by the Director-General. 
Decisions shall be taken by consensus to the extent possible, and otherwise by secret ballot 
until a simple majority is obtained. In the event of a tied vote, the Jury shall have the option of 
awarding the prize to two candidates, between whom it will be equally divided. A Jury member 
shall not take part in a vote concerning a nomination from his or her country.

A working group of the Jury shall make a pre-selection to limit candidates to no more than 
twelve, if necessary. The working group shall consist of all five persons serving in the Bureau 
of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme, sitting as 
the working group of the Jury. The quorum for the working group shall be three members.

In order to minimize costs, the Jury and its working group shall hold a special meeting 
on the occasion of meetings of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of 
the World Programme and of its Bureau, respectively.

6. Nomination of candidates

The Director-General of UNESCO shall invite the submission of nominations to 
the secretariat of the Prize, by 31 December of every even year, from the governments of 
Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, and from intergovernmental 
organizations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) maintaining 
official relations with the Organization. The work of the IGOs and INGOs must be in the field of 
preservation and conservation of documentary heritage. Each Member State, IGO and INGO 
may designate no more than three candidates for each biennium.

7. Submission of nominations

Each nomination must include, in English or in French: a description of the candidate’s 
background and achievements; a summary of the work submitted for consideration; 
a review of the way in which the work submitted has contributed to the preservation and 
accessibility of documentary heritage.

8. Procedure for the awarding of the Prize

The Director-General of UNESCO shall announce the name of the winner(s). The Director-General 
(or his/her representative) shall award the Prize at an official ceremony held for that purpose 
either in Paris or in Cheongju City, Republic of Korea, on the occasion of Jikji Day, as from 
the 2004-2005 biennium.

9. Amendments to the Statutes of the Prize

Any amendment to the present Statutes shall be submitted to the Executive Board for approval.