Catholic History in Korea

Geographically Korea is located in a peninsular between China and Japan and it had developed ties with these countries through the cultural exchanges. The traditional religions of Korea were Buddhism and Confucianism though many Koreans believed in shamanism alongside of these two religions.

Catholicism first was introduced into Korea in the 17th century. By that time, Catholicism had already spread in China and Japan and Koreans who were in contact with these two countries knew of its existence. Catholic Books in Chinese language were transmitted to Korea from the 17th century.

Some Korean literati got an idea of this new religion through reading and studying these books on Catholicism and tried to practice it by themselves. One of them, Yi Seung-Hun, went to Beijing to be baptized and on his return to Korea he founded a Christian community. This was in October, 1784. With this historical event we can affirm that the Catholic Church in Korea was established, not by European missionaries, but by the spontaneous efforts of Korean people

The Church was developed through the efforts of Korean believers. Those who led in the early stage of the Church belonged to the noble class. However, from the beginning, the door of the Church was opened to all the people of society. Soon the majority of the faithful as well as the leadership of the community became the non-privileged people who were oppressed by the ruling class at that time.

The Catholic Church in Korea was suppressed from its early days because the government considered Catholicism to be opposed to the Neo-Confucianism which was the guiding ideal of the government at that time. The principle of equality of all mankind which Catholics pursued was judged as a dangerous belief that contravenes the social hierarchical system. Furthermore the contact of the Catholics with foreigners without the permission of the government was regarded as a criminal act. The newly born Church, seeking communion with the universal Church, was in contact with the Vicar Apostolic of Beijing  About 10,000 of the faithful died martyrs in persecutions that lasted for more than one hundred years. Among them 103 martyrs including the first Korean priest Father Andrew Kim Tae-Gon were canonized on May 6th, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, Korea, by the Pope John Paul II.
In 1882, tacit consent was given to the freedom of religion for Catholics and this freedom was officially recognized in 1895. Since then the Catholic Church in Korea had the opportunity to serve Korean people and society despite the restriction of the freedom of religion by the Japanese colonialism.

The full development of the Catholic Church in Korea began in 1945 with the liberation of the country from Japanese rule. But, regrettably, soon after the independence, Korea was divided into two nations: the Republic of Korea in the South and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the North. Since then, Korea has become a place of ideological confrontations and, eventually, Korean War broke out in 1950. However, the Church in South Korea experienced remarkable growth both in quality and in quantity. Especially, the contribution of the Church to the democratization of Korea under military regime is highly appreciated.

By the end of 2002, the number of Catholics amounted to 4,347,605 or 9.0 percent of population of 48,517,871 and its growth in number of the faithful, priests and religious continued.

In Korea, the confrontation of ideology between communism and capitalism is still a reality. Efforts to overcome poverty and to promote economic development have shown progress side by side. We can say that Korea is a crossroad where East-West problems and South-North problems meet.
The Church in Korea is also finding its place in the local culture. Originally Korean culture stood apart from Christianity. For this reason there was conflict between Church and the local culture when Christianity was first introduced into Korea. Today a great efforts are made by the Church to reconcile itself with the Korean culture and make harmony. Thus it will be worthful to analyse the historical experience of the Church in Korea and share it with the universal Church

We will present it in eight articles which will describe the characteristics of the historical process that the Catholic Church in Korea went through over 200 years.

 As the life of Jesus was a history of continuous suffering and passion,the history of the Church in Korea has been record of continuous hardships and persecution.
They had to have meeting with nobles and servants,men and women gathered in the same place,eating and studying together against the feudalistic custom of those days.
In addition to, Most difficult persecution was the persecution by the family

1567
Priest Gaspar Vilela wanted to enter to Korea when he was staying in Japan, At this time,If Father Gaspar Vilela was in Korea,Our catholic history and the light of evangelizations here in Korea was being shining 15 years earlier than China.

1593
When Japan invaded Korea in 1592,General Konishi Yukinaga encamped Southern part of Kyong Sang Province .because there were some catholic soldiers in his Expeditionary army
Father Gregory De Cespedes a Portuguese Jesuit,was sent from Japan to minister to the men.Then Dec 29,1593,Father Cespedes offered his first mass in Korea

1777
a scholars, Kwon Shul-Shin and Il-Sin kwon brothers, Jung  Yak-Jon  Jung Yak-Jong,Jung Yak-Yong brothers Yi Seung-Hun ,Kim Won-Song ,Yi Chong-Ok and Kwon Sang-Hak etc gathered  at Chonjimam to study and discuss about western books and Christian philosophy.
Yi Byok joined the study group later ,he was 26 year old left his home and walked a snowy road  over 50 km.

The scholars had initially studied the christian faith as a philosophy of life but after Yi Byok joined the study groups, it became a spiritual way of life.They offered prayers and practiced their faith according to regulations made by themselves.
It is amazing fact that the korean scholars found and studied the catholic by themselves.Despite  they didn't know about the Roman calendar,they observed the 7th,14th,21st and 28th day of the lunar months as the Lord's days for prayers and no work.

1783

Yi,Byok who iss the one of the great schalr his boatismal name is John Baptist  and  he asked to Yi Seung-Hun to bring some books about the catholism, Yi Seung-Hun  went to Peking in China with his Father Yi Dong-Uk  and he brought the books about Catholicism and started to study it.

1784
Yi Seung-Hun baptized in peking ,his baptismal name Peter and he came back and Meeting was began at Myongyebang place is the now Myong-Dong Cathedral then Yi Il-Sin  and  Yi Byok  baptized by Yi Sung-Hun .
Yi  jon -Chang  baptize by  Kwon Il-Sin who later on  became a missionary for central area .and Kwon, Il Shin, Yi,Dan Won,CHoi,Chang Hyun, You,Hang Gum was very active and enthusiastic.

1785
The house(myongyebang) owner of Kim Bum-U of the middle class also persecuted and exiled to dan yang in central area due to due to he donated his house and gathered at here for prayer. Yi Byok  died his age was 31 year old.

1786
Jung Yak-jong baptized.

1787
Kim Buk-U died in exile.

1793
You Ji Hwang  went to the diocese of Peking to hand over the Letter which contains the situations of catholic  in Korea.

1794
Chinese priest Chu Mun-Mo who is a first one landed here as a Missionary came to Seoul

1795
Chu Mun-Mo celebrated first Mass in Korea on The Easter.

1796
Chu Mun Mo Dispatched some green to Peking  to convey some Letter to China

1797
Yi Seung-Hun exiled to Yesan county in central area

1800
King Jong Jo passed away and 11 years old Soo ascended the throne ,therefore it was the Queen Regent .

1801
Great persecution of Shinyu was began.
Yi Seung-Hun  and 5 catholics martyred at outside of west small gate.
The Korean government killed many Catholics in order to find priest Chu Mun-Mo 's hiding places.Jung Yak-Jong was also martyred who was the president of  "Myongdohoe" which had been organized by Father Chu as a catechetical association.No one of the catholic at that time revealed Father Chu's whereabouts even under the threat of death.

But Father Chu surrendered himself to the police just because of he thought that if he himself died,many others could be saved from death. Father Chu was beheaded in Saenamto. almost 300 catholic killed during this persecution.

1804
Jin-Hu Kim Great grand father of Rev.Andrew Kim was arrested.

1814
Kim Jin-Hu  who is a Great-grand father of Andrew Kim  Tae-Gon martyred in a prison in central area..He could save his life,but he died for the faith to Lord .He died when he was 72 years old.

1816
Third son of  Kim Jin-Hu  and 29 catholics martyred at Gwandukjong ( Dae Gu)south eastern Philosopher Hwang,Sa Young wrote the long letter which contains the reality of korean catholic and situations of persecutions ,but he can't send ti to Vatican due to it detected by the Government and he died and his corpse was torn apart 6 parts.

1821
Kim Tae-Gon  born on Aug 21,1821 and also Choi Yang-Up i who is the second priest in korea born in this year in different area

1824
Jung Ha-Sang  Yu  Jin-Kil and Cho Sin-chul  went to Peking in order to ask to Bishop to dispatch priests to korea

1825
Korean brother & sisters sent the Letter to The Vatican

1827
Persecution of Junghae,500 arrested and 10 killed. Pope Leo XII found letter form Korea

1831
First Diocese of Korea was established
Bishop Brigier designated Bishop of korea and diocese is independented from Peking Diocese in China

1834
Priest Maubant entered and dispatched 3 korean elite to Macau to study catholicism to be a priest who was Kim Tae-gon ,Choi Yang-Up  and Choi Bang-Je in 1836

and 1835 Father Jacob Chastan  landed and Bisjp Lawrence Imbert entered in 1836 .

1839
Persecution of Gihae
Bishop Imbert and Priests Maubant & Chastan martyred at saenamto
And other 46 korean martyred and also Kim Je-Jun  martyred due to he dispatched his son Kim Tae-Gon to be priest

1840
Second priest in Korea  Choi Yang-Up's mother also martyred and other 3 korean.

1843
Bishop Ferreol designated as third Bishop of Korea diocese.

1844
Andrew Kim ordained as a Deacon by Bishop Ferreol on Dec,1844 Jillin in China

1845
Andrew Kim ordained as a Priest by Bishop Ferreol on Aug 17,1845 Shanghai in China

1846
Andrew Kim Tae-Gon  Martyred at saenamto

1866
King Chul-Jong died at the age of 33, vacated  the throne to a mere 12 year old Ko-Jong,and as a result, the youth's father Lee Hah-Ung (Daewongun) seized the legitimate power as Lord Regent to rule the land

The Regent proceeded to exercise his authority for 12 years,during which he abolished educational institutions which were viewed as troublesome,worked diligently on reconstructing palaces,and firmly planted fundamental guideline for principles of government.
He also opposed all forms of an open door policy to foreign nations, and displaying his staunch conviction to isolate korea from alien influence, he finally launched his merciless attack on the Roman Catholics from 1866 which lasted for a period of 6 years.

1882

From this year,  free from the Catholic Persecution according to Friendship treaty between America and Korea in 1882.

  *** On May 06,1984
When Pope john Paul II visited Korea,on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the catholic church in Korea, he canonized 103 Korean martyrs and this is a first time those high number of canonization outside of Vatican in Church history. This great historic event reaffirms that much proud history of Christianity in this land,and marks a monument of victory of the martyrs,who overcame the forces of evil and death.

• Agatha Chon Kyonghyob
• Agatha Kim
• Agatha Kwon Chini
• Agatha Yi Kannan
• Agatha Yi Kyong-i
• Agatha Yi Sosa
• Agatha Yi
• Andrew Kim Taegon
• Cecilia Yu
• Jung Hye
• Paul Chong Hasang
• Agnes Kim Hyoju
• Alex U Seyong
• Andrew-Chong Kwagyong (catechist)
• Anna Kim
• Anna Pak A-gi
• Anna Pak Agi
• Anthony Daveluy (bishop)
• Anthony Kim Son-u
• Augustine Pak Chong-won
• Augustine Yi Chin-gil
• Augustine Yi Kwang-hon
• Barbara Ch'oe Yong-i
• Barbara Cho Chung-i
• Barbara Han Agi
• Barbara Kim
• Barbara Ko Suni
• Barbara Kwon Hui
• Barbara Yi Chong-hui
• Barbara Yi
• Bartholomew Chong Munho
• Benedicta Hyon Kyongnyon
• Catherine Chong Ch'oryom
• Catherine Yi
• Charles Cho Shin-ch'ol
• Charles Hyon Songmun
• Columba Kim Hyo-im
• Columba Kim
• Damianus Nam Myong-hyog (catechist)
• Damien Nam Myong-hyok
• Elisabeth Chong Chong-hye (virgin)
• Francis Ch'oe Hyong-hwan
• Ignatius Kim Chejun (catechist)
• Jacob Chastan (priest)
• John Baptist Chong Chang-un (catechist)
• John Baptist Nam Chongsam
• John Baptist Yi Kwangnyol (catechist)
• John Nam Chong-sam
• John Pak
• John Yi Kwong-hai
• John Yi Munu
• John Yi Yunil (catechist)
• Joseph Chang Chugi (priest)
• Joseph Chang Songjib
• Joseph Cho Yunho
• Joseph Im Ch'ibaeg
• Joseph Peter Han Wonso (catechist)
• Juliet Kim (virgin)
• Justin de Bretenières (priest)
• Lawrence Han Ihyong (catechist)
• Lawrence Imbert (bishop)
• Lucia Kim
• Lucia Park Huisun
• Ludovicus Beaulieu (priest)
• Luke Hwang Soktu
• Magalena Ho Kye-im
• Magdalene Cho
• Magdalene Han Yong-i
• Magdalene Kim Obi
• Magdalene Pak Pongson (widow)
• Magdalene Son Sobyog
• Magdalene Yi Yong-hui
• Magdalene Yi Yongdog
• Maria Park K'unagi
• Maria Won Kwi-im (virgin)
• Maria Yi Indog
• Maria Yi Yonhui
• Mark Chong Uibae (catechist)
• Martha Kim
• Martin Luke Huin (priest)
• Mary Yi Yon-hui
• Paul Ho
• Paul Hong Yongju (catechist)
• Perpetua Hong Kumju (widow)
• Peter Aumaitre (priest)
• Peter Ch'oe Ch'ang-hub (catechist)
• Peter Ch'oe Hyong (catechist)
• Peter Cho Kwaso
• Peter Chong Wonji
• Peter Henricus Dorie (priest)
• Peter Hong Pyongju
• Peter Kwon Tugin
• Peter Maubant (priest MEP)
• Peter Nam Kyongmun (catechist)
• Peter Ryau
• Peter Son Sonji (catechist)
• Peter Y Taech'ol
• Peter Yi Hoyong
• Peter Yi Myongs
• Peter Yu Chongyul (catechist)
• Peter Yu Tae-Chol
• Protasius Chong Kurbo
• Rosa Kim (widow)
• Sebastian Nam
• Simon Berneux (bishop)
• Stephen Min Kukka (catechist)
• Susanna U Surim
• Teresa Kim Imi
• Teresa Kim
• Teresa Yi Mae-im
• Thomas Son Chason

* Blue color denoted French missionary and names are in alphabetical order.

 * We have 18 Dioceses including 1 for Militaty and 2 for North Korea

* Updated on Dec 06,2007