A recent South Korean study suggests that metal printings discovered in 2010 are likely to date to hundreds of years earlier than the previous record.
 
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Sunday announced the result of research commissioned by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA). According to the research, the "jeungdogaja" was presumed to have been printed between 1033 and 1155. 
 
"Jeungdogaja" are Buddhist books that were printed with movable metal type. They were first discovered in 2010, and there has been controversy over whether they precede “jikjisimcheyojeol,” which were printed in 1377 with what had been recognized as the world’s oldest metal type. 
 
The research institute said it used a radiocarbon dating technique to determine the age of the metal type used in "jeungdogaja."
 
The CHA said it will convene a cultural heritage review committee in the near future, and launch a process to designate “jeungdogaja” as a national cultural treasure.