Multilayer ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component, comprising:

• forming a ceramic green sheet;
• forming, on the ceramic green sheet, an internal electrode pattern using a conductive paste, the conductive paste including a conductive metal, an additive, and sulfur (S) of 500 ppm or less;
• forming a ceramic laminate by layering a plurality of ceramic green sheets, each including the internal electrode pattern;
• and
• forming a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrodes by sintering the ceramic laminate,
• wherein, in a cross-section of the ceramic body taken in a length-thickness plane, an amount of the additive in internal electrodes of the plurality of internal electrodes in upper and lower portions of the ceramic body is different than an amount of the additive in internal electrodes in a central portion of the ceramic body.