Editing Korea (section)

===Science and technology===
{{Main|History of science and technology in Korea}}
{{See also|List of Korean inventions and discoveries}}
[[File:Cheomseongdae 첨성대.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Cheomseongdae]], the oldest surviving [[astronomical observatory]] in Asia]]
One of the best known artefacts of Korea's history of science and technology is the [[Cheomseongdae]], a 9.4-meter high [[astronomical observatory]] built in 634.

The earliest known surviving Korean example of woodblock printing is [[The Great Dharani Sutra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cha.go.kr/english/search_plaza/ECulresult_Db_View.jsp?VdkVgwKey=11,01260000,37 |title=Cultural Heritage, the source for Koreans' Strength and Dream |publisher=[[Cultural Heritage Administration]] |location=KR |access-date=3 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316165534/http://www.cha.go.kr/english/search_plaza/ECulresult_Db_View.jsp?VdkVgwKey=11%2C01260000%2C37 |archive-date=16 March 2008 }}</ref> It is believed to have been printed in Korea in 750–51, which if correct, would make it older than the [[Diamond Sutra]].

[[File:SelectedTeachingsofBuddhistSagesandSonMasters1377.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Jikji]]'', ''Selected Teachings of Buddhist Sages and Seon Masters'', the earliest known book printed with movable metal type, 1377. Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris.]]
During the [[Goryeo]] period, [[metal movable type]] printing was invented by [[Ch'oe Yun-ŭi]] in 1234.<ref>{{cite web|title=Korean Classics : Asian Collections: An Illustrated Guide (Library of Congress – Asian Division)|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/asian/guide/guide-korean.html|website=Library of Congress|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026173540/https://www.loc.gov/rr/asian/guide/guide-korean.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="print_c"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Korea, 1000–1400 A.D. {{!}} Chronology {{!}} Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History {{!}} The Metropolitan Museum of Art|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/07/eak.html|website=The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History|publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327034517/https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/07/eak.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Movable type – Oxford Reference|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100213284|website=Oxford Reference|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026154750/http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100213284|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="print_f"/><ref name="print_a"/> This invention made printing easier, more efficient and also increased literacy, which observed by Chinese visitors was seen to be so important where it was considered to be shameful to not be able to read.<ref>Baek Sauk Gi (1987). Woong-Jin-Wee-In-Jun-Gi #11 Jang Young Sil, page 61. Woongjin Publishing.</ref> The [[Mongol Empire]] later adopted Korea's movable type printing and spread as far as Central Asia. There is conjecture as to whether or not Ch'oe's invention had any influence on later printing inventions such as Gutenberg's [[Printing press]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rightreading.com/printing/gutenberg.asia/gutenberg-asia-1-introduction.htm|title=Gutenberg and the Koreans: Did Asian Printing Traditions Influence the European Renaissance?|website=www.rightreading.com|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019002416/http://www.rightreading.com/printing/gutenberg.asia/gutenberg-asia-1-introduction.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> When the [[Mongols]] [[Mongol invasion of Europe|invaded Europe]] they inadvertently introduced different kinds of Asian technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/mongols-effect-on-europe-195621 |title=Effects of the Mongol Empire on Europe |publisher=Szczepanski, Kallie |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127210731/https://www.thoughtco.com/mongols-effect-on-europe-195621 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the Joseon period, the [[Turtle Ship]] was invented, which were covered by a wooden deck and iron with thorns,<ref name="Hawley 2005, 195f.">{{cite book| last = Hawley| first = Samuel| title = The Imjin War. Japan's Sixteenth-Century Invasion of Korea and Attempt to Conquer China| year = 2005| publisher = The Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch| location = Seoul| isbn = 978-89-954424-2-5| pages = 195f }}</ref><ref name="Turnbull 2002, 244">{{cite book| last = Turnbull| first = Stephen| title = Samurai Invasion. Japan's Korean War 1592–98| year = 2002| publisher = Cassell & Co| location = London| isbn = 978-0-304-35948-6| page = [https://archive.org/details/samuraiinvasionj0000turn/page/244 244]| url = https://archive.org/details/samuraiinvasionj0000turn/page/244}}</ref><ref name="Roh 2004, 13">{{cite journal | last =Roh | first =Young-koo | title =Yi Sun-shin, an Admiral Who Became a Myth | journal =The Review of Korean Studies | volume =7 | issue =3 | year =2004 | pages =15–36 | url =http://review.aks.ac.kr/AttachedFiles/7-3-1-Yi%20Sun-shin,%20an%20Admiral%20Who%20Became%20a%20Myth.pdf | place =KR | access-date =4 February 2012 | archive-date =21 September 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130921021725/http://review.aks.ac.kr/AttachedFiles/7-3-1-Yi%20Sun-shin,%20an%20Admiral%20Who%20Became%20a%20Myth.pdf | url-status =dead }}</ref> as well as other weapons such as the [[Korean cannon|bigyeokjincheolloe cannon]] (비격진천뢰, {{linktext|飛|擊|震|天|雷}}) and the [[hwacha]].

The Korean alphabet [[hangul]] was also invented during this time by [[Sejong the Great of Joseon|King Sejong the Great]].