This day the Church commemorates the martyrs of Korea who sacrificed their lives in proclaiming God’s Kingdom. It was around 1784 when the evangelization of their country began through the efforts of a group of lay people headed by a Korean named Yi Sung-hun. Soon, the Christian Church grew. However, terrible events followed as waves of persecutions occurred from 1791 to 1866. Notable personalities who were martyred were Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, the first native priest of Korea, and the lay apostle leader, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, who was instrumental for the deployment of more priests to Korea, a plea he made and granted by Pope Gregory X.
Besides Saints Andrew and Paul, Saint Pope John Paul II also canonized in 1984, 98 other Koreans and 3 French missionaries. Among the martyrs were a number of bishops and priests, but mostly were lay people- men and women, young and elderly, married and unmarried- all of them offered their lives so that Catholicism may continue to grow in Korea. Freedom to religion came about in this country in 1883.
Holy Martyrs of Korea, pray for us!
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