St. Andreas Kim Taegon, Pavel Chong Hasang and their Companions-Martyrs

A look at history: The Christian message arrived in Korea from China around 1780. Korean travelers brought it, and the first Christian communities began to form in Korea thanks to the laity. Soon after, missionaries from the West arrived in the country, particularly those from France. Around the middle of the following century, they and many local martyrs gave their lives spreading the faith in Korea. Their blood became the seed of new Christians. As was the case elsewhere, the initial spread of Christianity was associated with significant persecution, supported by the 1802 law that prohibited the propagation of the Christian faith under penalty of death. Among those who believed that God should be obeyed more than the powerful in this world was Pope John Paul II. 6. During a pastoral visit to South Korea on 5 October 1984, he declared 103 saints. This was the first canonization to be held outside of Rome since 1369.

THE FIRST MARTYRS IN KOREA

The first recorded instance of Christianity in Korea dates back to around 1620. However, in this isolated country, Christ’s teachings were quickly suppressed. More than a hundred years later, lay people who believed in Christ and his saints brought great spiritual benefits. They finally sealed their testimony with their blood.

In 1784, Mr Yi Song-hun, a member of the Korean delegation, received baptism and the name Peter from the French missionary Jean Joseph de Grammont in Beijing. Not only did his group bring the Holy Scriptures to Korea, Peter also successfully spread Christian faith, particularly among the intellectuals.

Ng-hun was baptized and given the name Peter by the French missionary Jean Joseph de Grammont in Beijing. His group not only brought the Holy Scriptures to Korea, but Peter also successfully spread Christian faith, particularly among the intellectuals.

Seven years later, a significant number of Christians began to cause concern for the government. In 1794, the Chinese priest Jakub Cho arrived in Korea and worked tirelessly in the country for seven years. He was then captured and condemned alongside around three hundred Christians. The government expressed concern that the spread of foreign culture and civilization could threaten its sovereignty. Despite the bloody oppression, the local church gained strength and sent a petition to Rome, asking for a priest and a bishop. However, Pope Pius VII, who was a prisoner of Napoleon at the time, could not comply. It was not until the election of Pope Gregory XVI that an apostolic vicar from France was appointed to Korea in 1831; however, he died en route. It took about two years for the new bishop to reach the country. Two French priests, Petr Maubant and Jakub Chastan, accompanied the newly appointed bishop, Lawrence Imbert, as well as the Chinese priest Patrick Ryu. In 1839, the French clergy were arrested for organising the church on the 21^(st). September, they were martyred (see overview nos. 42–44 for more information). They were replaced by: Bishop Ferréol, missionary Antonín Daveluy, and the first indigenous priest, Ondrej Kim Taeg.

As the first Korean priest, Andrew Kim Taegon is remembered here by the local layman Paul as the first, although he would be in 72nd place in the subsequent chronological overview.

Born in 1821 in Solmoe, Chungcheong, Korea, he was the son of the farmer Ignatius Kim Chejun, who died on 26 April 1839. At the age of 15, he travelled to Macau with two companions to prepare for the priesthood. He first attempted to return to his homeland in December 1842, but did not succeed until almost three years later. He was ordained in Shanghai on the 17^(th). August 1845. One of his first tasks was to organize the transportation of French missionaries from Shanghai to Korea by boat. This was accomplished on 12 October. At the request of Bishop Ferré, he liaised with Chinese fishermen to facilitate correspondence with foreign countries. In 1846, he was arrested and imprisoned for being a Christian.

During the interrogation, the mandarin asked Andrew Kim if he was a Christian, to which he confirmed. When asked by the king why he practiced the forbidden religion, he answered: ‘Because it is true. It teaches me to honor God and will grant me eternal bliss.” When threatened with beatings if he did not renounce God, he replied: ‘As you wish. I will never leave my God.’ They then tied a large wooden board around his neck and threw him in a dungeon. The board prevented him from moving or lying down. His hands were handcuffed, and ropes were wrapped around his body at the kidney area. Two imprisoned sailors and curious onlookers watched his suffering, and Andrew Kim preached to them. After a few days, he was taken to Kim Kaitsu, the governor. There, too, he preached the fundamental truths of the faith, determined to lay down his life for it. During the interrogation, they demanded that he reveal the names of other Christians. However, he emphasized that this would go against the commandment of love. He was sentenced to death. He was tortured in Saenamt’o, near Seoul, and on the coast on the 16^(th). Likewise, he was beheaded. Christians buried his body in the mountains.

Pavel Chong Hasang was born in 1795 in Marae (now Neung-ne-ri), Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea. His mother, Cecilia Yu Sosa, was 23 years old. 11. He was beaten with sticks in prison and died in 1839 at the age of 78. His younger sister, Elizabeth, was executed on 20 November 1839. In December 1839, his older brother and father were already imprisoned. 1801.

Pavel Chong is said to have lived in Seoul and helped the poor there since the age of 20. Not only did he pray for priests to be sent to his homeland, but he also wrote to the Pope to request it. During the winter of 1836–37, he assisted Bishop Imbert and his two priests on their missionary journey. They arrived in Korea on 31 December. 12. 1836. Interpreter Pavel remained with them, acting as a catechist. At that time, it is estimated that there were 9,000 Christians in Korea, a number that could no longer be concealed. Three missionaries were arrested on the 6th. 9. 1839, and were executed on the 21^(st. 9. The zealous layman Paul Chong Hasang was also caught. When questioned about defending and extolling the religion of foreigners, and perhaps depicting kings and mandarins as wrongdoers for banning it, he replied: ‘I have nothing to object to these words. So I have to die.’ He was beheaded in Seoul on 22 September.

Both Korean martyrs were among the 79 people who died for Christ between 1839 and 1846, and Pope Pius XI beatified them in July 1925. This group was canonized alongside the 24 martyrs from 1861 to 1867, who were beatified on 6 October 1968 by Pope Paul VI, during Pope John Paul II’s pastoral visit to Korea.