The ancient Korean medical encyclopedia “Donguibogam," the only such ancient medical text registered on the UNESCO Memory of the World list, will for the first time be published in English.

The Health and Welfare Ministry says work is under way to translate the text into English in order to promote the book internationally ahead of the 400th anniversary of its publication.

The "Donguibogam" is a comprehensive compilation of 17th century East Asian medicine that contributed to advancing Oriental medicine. Its value is globally recognized but has never been published in English.

The ministry says the English version will be distributed to 50 South Korean missions, think tanks and international organizations abroad that deal with traditional Korean medicine.