How about a place where echoes of faith intertwine with tales of resilience? Today we find ourselves before \uc885\ub85c\uad50\ud68c in Seoul. This church stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Christianity in Korea. It has witnessed pivotal moments in the nation’s history.
\uc885\ub85c\uad50\ud68c is more than just a religious building. It embodies the hopes and struggles of a community. Its story is interwoven with the very fabric of Seoul. The church is located in Jongno-gu.
Did you know that this area bears silent witness to the sacrifices of Korean Catholic martyrs? During the Joseon Dynasty, the Left Police Bureau stood in Jongno-3 Ga. The Right Police Bureau was near Gwanghwamun Station. These sites saw the torture of believers. Twenty-two of the 103 Saints of Korean Catholic history met their end here. Five of the 124 Blessed beatified in 2014 also died here. Twenty-three of the 133 Servants of God fought for their belief.
The Joseon Dynasty’s police bureaus became instruments of persecution. Their original duty was finding those who spread groundless rumors. This role inevitably led to the suppression of the burgeoning Catholic Church. The Buk-San Incident of 1795 saw the Left Police Bureau attempt to arrest Chinese Priest Zhou Wen-Mo. Choi In-Gil, Yoon Yoo-Il, and Ji-Hwang were martyred here.
In 1801 the Shin-Yu Persecution intensified the crackdown. The government ordered both bureaus to arrest Catholic believers. Leaders were sent to Hyeong-Jo and EuiGeum-Bu. Others faced torture in the bureaus. Father Zhou Wen Mo was interrogated and beheaded. Shim Ah-Gi, Kim Ee-Woo, Park Chung-Hwan, and Cho Shin-Hang were martyred.
Tracking Catholic believers became a key mission for the bureaus. Believers often hid in secret faith communities. In 1832, Hwang Suk-Ji was captured. He was punished and martyred in 1833.
During the Gi-Hae Persecution of 1839, more believers faced martyrdom. Bishop Saint Imbert, Priest Saint Manbant, and Priest Saint Chastan endured the bureaus’ cruelty. Saints Jeong Guk-Bo, Jang Sung-Jib, and Choi Kyung-Hwan were martyred. Saints Yoo Dae-Chul, Min Geuk-Ga, and Jeong Hwa-Kyung were hanged. Saints Kim Barbara and Lee Barbara died from illness caused by imprisonment.
In 1841, Choi Young-Soo was hanged. During the Byeong-Oh Persecution in 1846, Priest Saint Kim Dae-Gun, President Saint Hwang Seok-Doo, and President Saint Jang Joo-Gi spread God’s word despite the risk. From 1868 to 1871, Lee Yoo-Il, Han Yong-Ho, and Choi Sa-Gwan were martyred.
Even after the official persecution ended, arrests and punishment continued. Lee Byung-Kyo, Kim Duk-Bin, and Lee Yong-Hun starved to death in 1879. They were the last martyrs of the Korean Catholic Church.
Around 1600 to 1700 people were martyred from 1866 to 1879. About 576 were martyred in Seoul. Of those, 106 died at the Police Bureaus.
In February 2013, Cardinal Yeom Soo-Jung designated Jongno Cathedral as the ‘Police Bureau Martyrdom Site Cathedral’. The cathedral set up a ‘Memorial Place for Catholic Martyrs’. The Police Bureaus became open to the public.
\uc885\ub85c\uad50\ud68c stands near these sites of immense historical and spiritual significance. The church serves as a living reminder of the faith. It remembers those who sacrificed everything for their beliefs.
As we stand before \uc885\ub85c\uad50\ud68c let us remember the countless acts of devotion. Let us honor the stories etched into the very stones beneath our feet. Let this place inspire us to stand firm in our convictions. Let us strive for a world where faith and freedom flourish.