In order to further promote the realization of the goal of the World Memory Program, UNESCO established the UNESCO /Jikji World Memory Award in April 2004. According to the stipulation in the constitution of UNESCO's direct prize: "The prize aims to commemorate the inclusion of Buljo jikji shimche yojeol, the world's earliest existing metal movable type printing work, in the Memory of the World, and to promote the preservation and utilization of this documentary heritage as the common heritage of mankind."

The content of the ancient book Jijie is the essence of Zen Buddhism summarized by Baigen, a high-ranking monk in the last years of Korea Dynasty. The book was printed in July of 1377 in the old temple of Xingdesa in Cheongju, South Korea, using metal movable type printing technology. The book is printed in two volumes, the first volume has been lost, and the second volume is now kept by the French National Library.

At the167th meeting of the UNESCO Executive Board, the Korean delegation proposed to establish a UNESCO direct prize funded by the government within the framework of the Memory of the World Program to reward outstanding projects in the field of protecting and utilizing the documentary heritage as the common heritage of mankind, and reiterated its commitment to establish this prize at the 32nd session of the UNESCO General Conference.

The Memory of the World Prize is awarded every two years with a prize of 30,000 US dollars, which rewards those institutions and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to preserving the documentary heritage and making it known to more people. Bonuses, management fees and all expenses related to the award ceremony are all borne by South Korea.

The Director-General of UNESCO determines the winners according to the recommendations of the UNESCO Direct Awards Committee (composed of seven members of the International Advisory Committee of Memory of the World Project). In 2005, the Czech National Library became the first person to win the World Memory Award for its contribution to the protection and dissemination of literary heritage.

The Director-General of UNESCO will announce the winners. Starting from the biennium 2004-2005, the Director-General (or his representative) will present this award at a special formal ceremony held in Paris or Cheongju, South Korea on the occasion of "Direct Point Day".

The name of the annual winners list is located in the Czech National Library Prague 2005 Phonogrammarchiv 2007, and is affiliated to the Austrian Academy of Sciences Vienna 2009 Malaysian National Archives Kuala Lumpur.