Korean Martyrs

From New World Encyclopedia
Revision as of 17:43, 3 September 2007 by Anne Inoue (talk | contribs)
Previous (Korean Empire)
Next (Korean Peninsula)


Korean Martyrs
Rc con cevang ps pospa img korean-martyrs.jpg

Korean Martyrs
Martyrs
Born Various
Died 1839, 1840, 1841, 1846, 1866
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified 1925, 1968
Canonized May 6, 1984, Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea

by Pope John Paul II

Feast September 20

A religious martyr is a person who is killed as a result of maintaining and practicing religious faith. In the early years of the Christian faith in Korea, several thousand Christians, most of them Roman Catholics, were martyred. The Catholic faith started to develop in Korea at the beginning of the 17th century, during the Joseon period, a time when outside influence of any kind was not welcomed in Korea. Catholicism was seen as a threat to the state ideology of Confucianism, and many Catholic monks, priests and lay members were executed, producing as many as 8,000 or more martyrs.

The Early Christian Church in Korea

Laurent Marie Joseph Imbert, 1st Bishop of Korea

The Roman Catholic church began to develop in Korea at the beginning of the 17th century, brought by Koreans who had met the faith and been converted in China. They also brought translations of the scriptures from China, and the strong and dynamic Catholic communities were led almost entirely by lay people until the arrival of the first Catholic missionaries from France in 1836. The Protestant churches did not start sending missionaries until nearly 50 years later, in 1884.

Catholic Martyrs

The Catholic community suffered major persecutions in the years 1839, 1846 and 1866, producing at least 8,000 known martyrs, killed for following a false religion. Among them were the fervent Korean priest Andrew Kim Taegeon and the Korean lay catechist Paul Chung Hasang. The vast majority of the martyrs were simple lay people, including men and women, married and single, old and young. The members of this group of martyrs have been canonized as saints, with feast day September 20. Currently, Korea has the 4th largest number of saints in the Catholic world.

Protestant Martyrs

Robert Jermain Thomas (1839-1866), a Welshman, is the first Protestant missionary on record to have visited Korea, arriving in 1865, to distribute Chinese Bibles, about 20 years before the first organized Protestant evangelists began work in Korea. He returned to Korea again in 1866, on the General Sherman officially as an interpreter, continuing to also distribute Bibles. He was executed along with the rest of the ships crew when the ship sailed too close to Pyungyang and was attacked by Korean forces. Thus, he became the first Protestant Korea martyr in Korea.

Many other Protestant missionaries and laymen were killed during the Japanese occupation. Many of the political activists killed during the March 1 Movement in 1919 were Christians. They are better described as political martyrs than religious martyrs, because they were killed as a direct result of their participation in political activism. From that time on, the Japanese occupation government was increasingly suspicious that any Christian might have political motives, and many Christians were imprisoned, tortured and killed.

North Korean Martyrs

At the end of the Korea war, there were an estimated 300,000 Catholics in North Korea, including a number of Benedictine monks. Today, according to Pyungyang, the number of Catholics in North Korea is less than 5,000. At the end of the war, some fled to the South. Others were killed, or gave up their faith. It is impossible to know how many became martyrs.

36 members of the Benedictine order associated with Tokwon Abbey in North Korea have been confirmed as killed by the Stalinist regime between 1949 and 1952, when they refused to abandon their faith. The 36 have been recommended for sainthood, and the Order of St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey in South Korea is working to move the process of their beatification and canonization forward.

Legacy

Although the history of Catholicism in Korea is relatively short, as a result of the brutal persecutions of the church by the Joseon court, the number of martyrs is quite high, and Korea is the country has the 4th largest number of Catholic saints. Pope John Paul II broke with tradition and held a canonization ceremony in Seoul, bestowing sainthood on 103 of the Korean Martyrs.

The courage and sacrifice of the Korean Catholic Church is well known outside Korea, and there are more than a dozen Catholic Churches in North America bearing the name Church of the Korean Martyrs.


Message from Korea's first native Priest

Saint Andrew Kim

From the last letter of Andrew Kim Taegeon to his parish as he awaited martyrdom with a group of twenty persons:

My dear brothers and sisters, know this: Our Lord Jesus Christ upon descending into the world took innumerable pains upon and constituted the holy Church through his own passion and increases it through the passion of its faithful....
Now, however, some fifty or sixty years since holy Church entered into our Korea, the faithful suffer persecutions again. Even today persecution rages, so that many of our friends of the same faith, among whom am I myself, have been thrown into prison. just as you also remain in the midst of persecution. Since we have formed one body, how can we not be saddened in our innermost hearts? How can we not experience the pain of separation in our human faculties?
However, as Scripture says, God cares for the least hair of our heads, and indeed he cares with his omniscience; therefore, how can persecution be considered as anything other than the command of God, or his prize, or precisely his punishment?...
We are twenty here, and thanks be to God all are still well. If anyone is killed, I beg you not to forget his family. I have many more things to say, but how can I express them with pen and paper? I make an end to this letter. Since we are now close to the struggle, I pray you to walk in faith, so that when you have finally entered into Heaven, we may greet one another. I leave you my kiss of love.


Korean Martyrs and Saints

Names of some of the martyrs killed in the persecutions in 1791, 1801, 1827, 1839, 1846, and 1866, 103 of whom were later canonized to sainthood May 6, 1984 by Pope John Paul II. In a break with tradition, the ceremony did not take place in Rome, but in Seoul.

  1. Martyrs from the Shinyu Persecution (1801) 신유박해(辛酉迫害)
    • Zhou (Chu) Munmo, Chinese, Korea's only priest at the time
    • Charles Yi Kyongdo
    • Lutgardis Yi Sooni
    • Chung Yakjong, father of Paul Chung Hasang
  2. Ulhae Persecution (1815)
  3. Chonghae Persecution (1827)
  4. Martyrs from the Gihye Persection (1839) 기해박해(己亥迫害)In the Gihae Persecution, the French Bishop Imbert and two other missionaries priests, Maubant and Chaston were martyred, as well as Paul Chung Hasang, one of the most successful lay leaders of the Korean Catholic Church, in addition to hundreds of other faithful.
    • Paul Chung Hasang , (1795-1839), who worked tirelessly as a lay leader to helped establish the early Korean Catholic Church, traveling back and forth to China many times to rebuild the church after the Shinyu persection, and finally gaining official recognition for the Korean Church from Rome on Sept. 9, 1831. He studied for the priesthood under Bishop Imbert, but was killed before becoming a priest. (103 Saints)
    • Cecilia Yu, mother of Paul Chung Hasang, died in prison in 1839 (103 Saints)
    • Elisabeth Chung Junghye, younger sister of Paul Chung Hasang. (103 Saints)
    • Peter Yi Hoyong Peter (103 Saints)
    • Nine faithful hung on crosses and then beheaded May 24, 1839:
    1. Magdalene Kim Obi (1774-1839). (103 Saints)
    2. Agatha Kim Agi (1787-1839). Baptized in prison 1839. (103 Saints)
    3. Barbara Han Agi (1792-1839). (103 Saints)
    4. Damian Nam Myonghyeok, a leader of the Catholic Church beginning from the 1820's (103 Saints)
    5. Peter Kwon Tugin (103 Saints)
    6. Anna Pak Agi (103 Saints)
    7. Augustine Yi Hwanghon (103 Saints)
    8. Lucy Park Huisun (103 Saints)
    9. Agatha Yi Sosa, sister of Peter Yi Hoyong Peter (103 Saints)
    • Martyred September 21-22, 1839
    1. Augustine Yu Chingil (1791-1839), one of just a few government officials in the Catholic Church, father of Peter Yu Taecheol, baptized in 1824 in China, executed September 22, 1839. (103 Saints)
    2. Peter Yu Taecheol, a thirteen-year old boy, youngest of the 103 Korean Martyr Saints.
    3. Ignatius Kim Jejun, father of Andrew Kim Taegon, executed September 22, 1839 (103 Saints)
    4. Bishop Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert, the first bishop assigned to Korea, arriving in 1837 (103 Saints)
    5. Father Philibert Maubant, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
    6. Father James Honore' Chastan, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
    • Among 8 Catholics beheaded on July 20th, 1839, the first group to be martyred after Cho Pyongku issued a decree that the Church be completely eliminated.
    1. Martha Kim Songim (1787-1839)(103 Saints)
    2. Magdalena Yi (103 Saints)
    3. Theresa Yi Mae-im (103 Saints)
    4. Lucy Kim (103 Saints)
    5. Maria Won Kwi-im, beaten badly and tortured (103 Saints)
    6. Rosa Kim (103 Saints)
    • Barbara Kim (1805-1839) died of disease while in prison. (103 Saints)
  5. Killed in the Byeongoh Persecution (1846) Martyrs from the Byeongoh Persecution included the first Korean-born Catholic priest, Andrew Kim Taegon, and nine other believers.
    • Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea's first native priest, son of Ignatius, also a martyr (103 Saints)
  6. Byungin Persecution (1866-1871), sometimes called the Great Persecution, under the rule of Daewongun, was the final and most severe persecution under the Joseon Dynasty. 9 foreign missionaries were killed, along with an estimated 8,000 Korean Catholics.
    • Bishop Anthony Daveluy (103 Saints)
    • Father Peter Aumaitre , French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
    • Beheaded March 7, 1866
    1. Bishop Siméon François Berneux (1814-1866), French Catholic Bishop, appointed 4th Bishop of Korea in 1854 (103 Saints)
    2. Father Peter Henricus Dorie, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
    3. Father Ludovicus Beaulieu, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
    4. Father Justin de Bretenières, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)


List of the 103 Korean Saints

  1. .이호영 베드로(회장 / 1838. 11. 5. / 형조전옥) Peter Yi Hoyong

Gihae Persecution (1839)

  1. .정국보 프로타시오(공인 / 1839. 5. / 포청옥) Protasius Chong Kurbo
  2. .김아기 아가타(과부 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Agatha Kim Agi
  3. .박아기 안나(부인 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Anna Pak Agi
  4. .이소사 아가타(과부 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Agatha Yi Sosa
  5. .김업이 막달레나(과부 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Magdalene Kim Obi
  6. .이광헌 아우구스티노(회장 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Augustine Yi Kwang-hon
  7. .한아기 바르바라(과부 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Barbara Han Agi
  8. .박희순 루치아(동정궁녀 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Lucia Park Huisun
  9. .남명혁 다미아노(회장 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Damien Nam Myong-hyok
  10. .권득인 베드로(상인 / 1839. 5. 4. / 서소문 밖) Peter Kwon Tugin
  11. .장성집 요셉(환부 / 1839. 5. 6. / 포청옥) Joseph Chang Songjib
  12. .김 바르바라(과부 / 1839. 5. 7. / 옥사) Barbara Kim
  13. .이 바르바라(동정녀 / 1839. 5. 7. / 옥사) Barbara Yi
  14. .김 로사(과부 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Rosa Kim (widow)
  15. .김성임 마르타(과부 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Martha Kim Songim
  16. .이매임 데레사(부인 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Teresa Yi Mae-im
  17. .김장금 안나(과부 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Anna Kim Changkeum
  18. .이광렬 요한(공인 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) John Baptist Yi Kwangnyol (catechist)
  19. .이영희 막달레나(동정 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Magdalene Yi Yong-hui
  20. .김 루치아(동정녀 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Lucia Kim
  21. .원귀임 마리아(동정녀 / 1839. 7. / 서소문 밖) Maria Won Kwi-im (virgin)
  22. .정하상 바오로(회장 / 1839. 9. 2. / 서소문 밖) Paul Chong Hasang
  23. .박큰아기 마리아(부인 / 1839. 9. 3. 서소문 밖) Maria Park K'unagi
  24. .권희 바르바라(부인 / 1839. 9. 3. / 서소문 밖) Barbara Kwon Hui
  25. .박후재 요한(상인 / 1839. 9. 3. / 서소문 밖) John Pak Hujae
  26. .이정희 바르바라(과부 / 1839. 9. 3. / 서소문 밖) Barbara Yi Chong-hui
  27. .이연희 마리아(부인 / 1839. 9. 3. / 서소문 밖) Maria Yi Yonhui
  28. .김효주 아녜스(동정녀 / 1839. 9. 3. / 서소문 밖) Agnes Kim Hyoju
  29. .최경환 프란치스코(회장 / 1839. 9. 2. / 옥사) Francis Ch'oe Hyong-hwan
  30. .앵베르 라우렌시오(제2대 조선교구장 주교 / 1839. 9. 1. / 새남터) Lawrence Imbert (bishop)
  31. .모방 베드로(신부 / 1839. 9. 1. / 새남터) Peter Maubant (priest MEP)
  32. .샤스탕 야고보(신부 / 1839. 9. 1. / 새남터) Jacob Chastan (priest)
  33. .유진길 아우구스티노(회장, 역관 / 1839. 9. 2. / 서소문 밖) Augustine Yu Chin-gil
  34. .허계임 막달레나(부인 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Magalena Ho Kye-im
  35. .남이관 세바스티아노(회장 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Sebastian Nam Yigwan
  36. .김 율리에타(궁녀 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Juliet Kim (virgin)
  37. .전경협 아가타(궁녀 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Agatha Chon Kyonghyob
  38. .조신철 가롤로(역관 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Charles Cho Shin-ch'ol
  39. .김제준 이냐시오(회장 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Ignatius Kim Chejun (catechist)
  40. .박봉손 막달레나(과부 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Magdalene Pak Pongson (widow)
  41. .홍금주 페르페투아(과부 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Perpetua Hong Kumju (widow)
  42. .김효임 골롬바(동정녀 / 1839. 9. 6. / 서소문 밖) Columba Kim Hyo-im
  43. .김 루치아(과부 / 1839. 9. / 옥사) Lucia Kim
  44. .이 가타리나(과부 / 1839. 9. / 옥사) Catherine Yi
  45. .조 막달레나(동정녀 / 1839. 9. / 옥사) Magdalene Cho
  46. .유대철 베드로(소년 / 1839. 10. 1. / 옥사) Peter Yu Tae-Chol
  47. .유소사 체칠리아(과부 / 1839. 11. 3. / 옥사) Cecilia Yu Sosa
  48. .최창흡 베드로(회장 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Peter Ch'oe Ch'ang-hub (catechist)
  49. .조증이 바르바라(부인 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Barbara Cho Chung-i
  50. .한영이 막달레나(과부 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Magdalene Han Yong-i
  51. .현경련 베네딕타(여회장 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Benedicta Hyon Kyongnyon
  52. .정정혜 엘리사벳(동정녀 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Elisabeth Chong Chong-hye (virgin)
  53. .고순이 바르바라(부인 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Barbara Ko Suni
  54. .이영덕 막달레나(동정녀 / 1839. 12. 9. / 서소문 밖) Magdalene Yi Yongdog

Martyred 1840

  1. .김 데레사(과부 / 1840. 1. 9. / 옥사) Teresa Kim
  2. .이 아가타(동정녀 / 1840. 1. 9. / 옥사) Agatha Yi
  3. .민극가 스테파노(회장 / 1840. 1. / 옥사) Stephen Min Kukka (catechist)
  4. .정화경 안드레아(회장 / 1840. 1. 3. / 옥사) Andrew-Chong Kwagyong (catechist)
  5. .허협 바오로(군인 / 1840. 1. / 옥사) Paul Hohyup
  6. .박종원 아우구스티노(회장 / 1840. 1. 1. / 당고개) Augustine Pak Chong-won
  7. .홍병주 베드로(회장 / 1840. 1. 1. / 당고개) Peter Hong Pyongju
  8. .손소벽 막달레나(부인 / 1840. 1. 1. / 당고개) Magdalene Son Sobyog
  9. .이경이 아가타(동정녀 / 1840. 1. 1. / 당고개) Agatha Yi Kyong-i
  10. .이인덕 마리아(동정녀 / 1840. 1. 1. / 당고개) Maria Yi Indog
  11. .권진이 아가타(부인 / 1840. 1. 1. / 당고개) Agatha Kwon Chini
  12. .홍영주 바오로(회장 / 1840. 2. 1. / 당고개) Paul Hong Yongju (catechist)
  13. .이문우 요한(복사 / 1840. 2. 1. / 당고개) John Yi Munu
  14. .최영이 바르바라(부인 / 1840. 2. 1. / 당고개)Barbara Ch'oe Yong-i

Martyred 1841

  1. .김성우 안토니오(회장 / 1841. 4. 9. / 옥사) Anthony Kim Son-u

Byungoh Persecution (1846) 병오박해(丙午迫害)

  1. .김대건 안드레아(신부 / 1846. 9. 16. / 새남터) Andrew Kim Taegon
  2. .현석문 가롤로(회장 / 1846. 9. 9. / 새남터) Charles Hyon Songmun
  3. .남경문 베드로(회장 / 1846. 9. / 포청옥) Peter Nam Kyongmun (catechist)
  4. .한이형 라우렌시오(회장 / 1846. 9. / 포청옥) Lawrence Han Ihyong (catechist)
  5. .우술임 수산나(과부 / 1846. 9. / 포청옥) Susanna U Surim
  6. .임치백 요셉(사공 / 1846. 9. / 옥사) Joseph Im Ch'ibaeg
  7. .김임이 데레사(동정녀 / 1846. 9. / 포청옥) Teresa Kim Imi
  8. .이간난 아가타(과부 / 1846. 9. / 옥사) Agatha Yi Kannan

3.정철염 가타리나(부인 / 1846. 9. / 옥사)Catherine Chong Ch'oryom

Byungin Persecution (1866) 병인박해(丙寅迫害) Great Persecution under Daewongun

  1. .유정률 베드로(회장 / 1866. 2. 7. / 평양) Peter Yu Chongyul (catechist)
  2. .베르뇌 시몬(제4대 조선교구장 주교 / 1866. 3. 7. / 새남터) Simon Berneux (bishop)
  3. .랑페르 유스토(신부 / 1866. 3. 7. / 새남터) Justin de Bretenières (priest)
  4. .도리 헨리코(신부 / 1866. 3. 7. / 새남터) Peter Henricus Dorie (priest)
  5. .볼리외 루도비코(신부 / 1866. 3. 7. / 새남터) Bernard Ludovicus Beaulieu (priest)
  6. .남종삼 요한(승지 / 1866. 3. 7. / 새남터) John Nam Chong-sam
  7. .전장운 요한(상인 / 1866. 3. 9. / 서소문 밖) John Baptist Chong Chang-un (catechist)
  8. .최형 베드로(회장 / 1866. 3. 9. / 서소문 밖) Peter Choi Hyong (catechist)
  9. .정의배 마르코(회장 / 1866. 3. 1. / 새남터) Mark Chong Uibae (catechist)
  10. .우세영 알렉시오(역관 / 1866. 3. 1. / 새남터) Alex U Seyong
  11. .다블뤼 안토니오(제5대 조선교구장 주교 / 1866. 3. / 갈매못) Anthony Daveluy (bishop)
  12. .위앵 루가(신부 / 1866. 3. / 갈매못) Martin Luke Huin (priest)
  13. .오메트르 베드로(신부 / 1866. 3. / 갈매못) Peter Aumaitre (priest)
  14. .장주기 요셉(회장 / 1866. 3. / 갈매못) Joseph Chang Chugi (priest)
  15. .황석두 루카(회장 / 1866. 3. / 갈매못) Luke Hwang Seoktu
  16. .손자선 토마스(농부 / 1866. 3. / 공주) Thomas Son Chason
  17. .정문호 바르톨로메오(원님 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Bartholomew Chong Munho
  18. .조화서 베드로(농부 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Peter Cho Hwaso
  19. .손선지 베드로(회장 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Peter Son Sonji (catechist)
  20. .이명서 베드로(농부 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Peter Yi Myongseo
  21. .한재권 요셉(회장 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Joseph Han Jaegwon (catechist)
  22. .정원지 베드로(농부 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Peter Chong Wonji
  23. .조윤호 요셉(농부 / 1866. 12. 3. / 숲정이) Joseph Cho Yunho
  24. .이윤일 요한(회장 / 1867. 1. 1. / 관덕정) John Yi Yunil (catechist)


See also

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Attwater, Donald, and Catherine Rachel John. 1995. The Penguin dictionary of saints. London: Penguin. ISBN 9780140513127
  • Kim, Chang-seok Thaddeus, and Choong-woo Andreas Lee. 1986. Holy places of the Korean martyrs. Seoul: Lay Apostolate Council of Korea. OCLC: 50093397
  • MacMahon, Hugh. 1995. The Korean martyr saints: founders of a church. Seoul: St. Hwang Sŏk Tu Luke Pub. House. ISBN 9788985996020

External links

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Korean_Martyrs&oldid=437301

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Copyright Logo
Powered by MediaWiki