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Namdaemun Market Catholic Church

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Did the towering skyscrapers around Namdaemun Market Catholic Church always exist? No. Imagine Seoul in the late 19th century. Picture a small religious community gathering at Jejungwon, Korea’s first western medical institution. This community, the precursor to Namdaemun Market Catholic Church, moved whenever Jejungwon did. Finally, in 1910, they found a permanent home near Namdaemun Gate. Namdaemun Market Catholic Church wasn’t always the gothic masterpiece we see today. The first church building, consecrated in 1910, was a 2,500-square-foot Korean-style worship hall. They changed the name from “Jejungwon Church” to “Church Outside Namdaemun.” A new worship hall arrived in 1950. Sadly, the Korean War claimed this structure, forcing services into tents. The resilient community rebuilt in 1955. Years later, in 1969, architect Park Dong-jin, who also designed the Young Nak Presbyterian Church, created the current gothic-style hall. Namdaemun Market Catholic Church became a beacon of hope for refugees after Korea’s liberation and during the Korean War. “Let’s meet at the church beyond the South Gate of Seoul Station,” became a common phrase. The church, situated on a hill in Hoehyeon-dong, stood tall before the skyscrapers arrived. Even in the 1970s, with Gangnam’s booming development, the church remained. For 130 years, Namdaemun Market Catholic Church has served the community, perched on its hilltop, a testament to faith and resilience. Its history is interwoven with the city’s story, a quiet witness to Seoul’s transformation.

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