Long Description:
The history of Christianity in Korea can be measured in terms of
sacrifice and martyrdom, from the early persecution of Roman
Catholic Christians who defied the state established Confucian
rites, to the brutal treatment and slaughter of Christians, along
with Buddhists and Confucianists, by the Japanese during the years
of harsh occupation in the twentieth century. For more than two
centuries the Christian faith has woven itself as a strong strand
into the Korean culture.
When the French missionary Xavier Baudonet undertook the
building of this Cathedral in 1908, it was conceived of as a
memorial to those who had been martyred for their faith at this
very spot.
The Martyrdom of Yun Chi'-ch'ung and Kwon Sang-yon December 8,
1781
When Yun Chi'-ch'ung and Kwon Sang-yon, were executed on this spot
on the 8th of December, 1781, they become the first Korean
Christian martyrs. This city of Jeonju was the traditional seat of
the Joseon Dynasty that ruled Korea up until the independence
movement in the early twentieth century, and the Christian faith
was seen as a threat to the state established Confucian system with
its rites of ancestor worship.
On the 17th of September, 1801 (one source gives the date Oct 24),
Biship Yu Hang-gom, who was the founder of the Catholic Church in
this area, and several other leaders of the early church were also
executed here.
Five of those executed were:
Yu Hang-gom (Augustine, age 46)
Yun Ji-heon (Francisco age 38)
Kim Yu-san (Thomas age 41)
Yu Gwan-geom (age 34)
Lee Woo-jim (age 40)
The Bishop's head was hung from the nearby South Gate
(Pungnam-mun)of the city of Jeonju. It is said that the cornerstone
for this building came from that gate, symbolizing that the church
is built on the blood of martyrs. Other sources recount more of the
history of Christian martyrdom in Korea.
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Martyrs"> Korean Martyrs
It is built in the impressive Romanesque style with red brick, high
arched entry ways and a central bell tower flanked by domed towers.
The interior is lavishly finished with stained-glass windows, and
hand carved stations of the cross. It is the largest western style
building in the north and south Jeolla Provinces. It is regularly
open for visitors and tours.
In recent years, these martyrs have come to be recognized by
Koreans and true heroes who sacrificed their very lives for their
faith. The Korean government has designated this site as National
Treasure No. 288.
National Treasure No. 288
The first Korean martyrs, Yun Chi'-ch'ung and Kwon Sang-yon, were
executed on this spot on the 8th of December, 1781.
On the 17th of September, 1801, Yu Hang-gom, the founder of the
Catholic Church in this region, and the leaders of the early church
were also executed here.
Yun Chi'-ch'ung and Kwon Sang-yon discarded Confucian rites of
sacrifice to the ancestors, which were a strong Korean national
unity, and opted for the Catholic sacrificed death. However, this
religious decision became a good opportunity for the government to
oppress the Catholic church.
Yu Hang-gom and the leaders of the early church had wanted to save
the people by accepting the Catholic Church instead of the
Confucian state religion and to reform the society through western
civilization.
The government judged this conduct to be an attempt to overthrow
the state.
Father Xavier Baudonet built a church on this place of persecution.
The cornerstone, on which the head of Yu Hang-gom had been hung,
has been taken from the south gate P(ungnam-mun) of the wall which
surrounded the city of Chonju at that time.
The Jeondong Catholic Church
Historic Site No. 288
This church (Former Cathedral) was built where Catholics had been
martyred during the Joseon dynasty. Many Catholics were executed at
this place including the first martyrs. Yu Ji-chung (Paul) and Kwun
Sang-yon (James) in 1791 and Yu hang-geom (Augustine) and Yun
Ji-heon (Francis) in 1801.
To revere their memory, the construction began in 1908 by a French
Father Baudounet and it was cempleted in 1914. This magnificent
Romanesque structure along with neighboring Pungnammun and
Gyonggijeon has become the symbol of harmony of traditional Korean
culture and western culture.
Two later additions on the grounds of this historic church are
these two sculptures - Christ with his arms outstretched and a
replica of Michelangelo's
La Pieta. No information as to
their artists or date of their creation is readily available.