Seoul: The Archdiocese of Seoul has commemorated the centenary of the beatification of 79 Korean Catholic martyrs persecuted during the Gihae (1839) and Byeong-o (1846) crackdowns. The celebrations featured a solemn Mass, the release of a new scholarly report, and the opening of a significant historical exhibition.
In his homily, Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung praised the martyrs’ unwavering faith under brutal persecution, calling their witness a legacy of hope and strength for future generations. He emphasized how their courage shines even through the official documents authored by their persecutors.
A newly published report titled “The Documentation of the Gihae and Byeong-o Persecutions” was unveiled during the Mass. The work draws from state records of the Joseon Dynasty, offering unprecedented access to verified accounts translated for the first time from royal and judicial archives rather than relying solely on oral testimonies.
The event was held at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum, where many of the martyrs were executed. Over 1,000 faithful gathered to honor their sacrifice. The 79 martyrs were beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1925, with additional martyrs canonized by later popes, bringing the total to 103 Korean saints.
A new exhibition titled “Anima Mundi Souls of the World” also opened at the Shrine. Inspired by the 1925 Vatican World Missionary Expo, the exhibit recreates the original “Joseon Pavilion” and showcases 270 items from across Korea and the Vatican’s Ethnological Museum. It runs until September 14 and aims to foster interfaith understanding, cultural dialogue, and historical reflection.