Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions are the Korean Martyrs who were killed in Korea for their faith during the 19th-century persecutions of Catholic Christians.
103 Catholic Christians were canonized as saints on May 6 1984 by Pope John Paul II, although around 10,000 had already been killed during this period.
On August 16 2014, Paul Yun Ji-Chung and other 123 martyrs were beatified by Pope Francis.
| Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companions Biography | |
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| Date of Birth | Saints Andrew Kim Taegon was born on August 21, 1821 and Paul Chong Hasang was born on 1794 |
| Place of Birth | South Korea |
| Profession | Saint Andrew Kim Taegon was the first Korean Catholic priest and Paul Chong Hasang was a servant of a government interpreter |
| Place of Work | Seoul, South Korea |
| Date of Death | Saint Paul Chong Hasang died on September 22, 1839 and Saint Andrew Kim Taegon died on September 16, 1846 |
| Place of Death | Saint Andrew Kim Taegon died at Han River, Seoul, South Korea |
| Feast Day | September 20 |
| Beatification | By Pope Pius XI on June 6 1925 |
| Canonization | By Pope John Paul II on May 6 1984 |
| Patron Saint of | Korean Clergy |
Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companions History
In Korea, in the 18th century, the Joseon Dynasty was in power, and the Confucianism system of thought was prevalent at that time. There was a class relationship comprising the nobility, scholars, commoners, and slaves.
It is the scholars who were thirsty for knowledge, who first brought Christianity to Korea. This was after they imported into Korea Christian literature written in Chinese.
However, the fire of the Catholic religion and Church was maintained and sustained by the common people who even without priests kept congregating.
There was this literature obtained from the Jesuits in China that began the long journey of Christianity in Korea.
These scholars studied it and shared the Good News with the commoners. The people slowly by slowly started to embrace Catholicism and after a few decades, there were about 4000 Catholics who had converted with no priest around.
Several requests were made to the Catholic Church leadership in China by Paul Chong Hasang together with others like Augustine Yu Chin-gil and Charles Cho Shin-chol to establish missions in Korea.
After a long time of serious and glaring danger to the missionaries, the Paris Foreign Mission Society managed to maneuver their way into Korea and established missions there.
This mission was led by Bishop Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert together with ten other French missionaries.
They would hide during the day and when night came, they would walk on foot to various places where the faithful had gathered. They would administer sacraments and other spiritual needs.
The more the Catholic converts increased, the more the persecutions continued. The major persecutions that happened over a period of 100 years are the Ki-hae persecution in 1839, the Pyong-o persecution in 1846 and the Pyong-in persecution in 1866. More than 10,000 Christians were killed for their faith.
This love and passion for God led Andrew Kim Tae-gon to become the first Korean native to become a priest and serve the people of God.
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
St Andrew Kim Taegon was born on August 21 1821 in Solmou, Dangjin, Korea and died on September 16 1846 in Seoul, South Korea. He was the first native Korean to be ordained as a Catholic priest.
Andrew Kim Taegon’s parents had converted to Christianity and therefore when he was 15 years old, he was baptized. He joined the seminary in Macau, China and also studied in Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines.
In 1844, he was ordained as a priest in China by the French bishop Jean-Joseph Jean-Baptiste Ferréol and returned to Korea to proclaim the Word of God.
Back in Korea, Christianity was heavily suppressed and therefore, the converts worshipped discretely to avoid persecution.
Andrew Kim Taegon was accused of espionage for foreigners and at the time of his execution he said, “Attentively listen to me, the communication I have held with foreigners has been for my religion and my God, and for Him, I will die.”
Andrew Kim Taegon together with many other Christians was tortured, beheaded and died as martyrs on September 16 1846 on the Han River in Saenamteo, Hanseong, Joseon (now Seoul, South Korea).
St Paul Chong Hasang
St Paul Chong Hasang is a Korean Martyr born in 1795 in Korea and died as a martyr on September 22 1839 in Seoul, South Korea.
Paul Chong Hasang’s father was called Augustine Jeong Yak-Jong who also died as a martyr. His uncle was called John Jeong Yak-Yong and he wrote the first catechism of the Catholic Church in the Korean language.
Paul Chong Hasang was 7 years old when his father was martyred and they fled to the countryside to hide.
When he grew up he became an assistant to a government official. Through this opportunity, he was able to travel to Beijing where he persuaded the bishop of Beijing to establish a diocese in Korea around 1825.
A diocese was established in Korea and Bishop Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert and two priests were sent there to evangelize.
The Bishop taught Paul Chong Hasang theology and Latin and as he was just about to be ordained as a priest, Christian persecutions broke out and he was arrested.
When he went in front of the judge he produced a written pronouncement that defended the Catholic Faith.
When the judge read it, he was in agreement with what was written but said that it was the king who forbids the religion and therefore, he too should renounce it.
Paul Chong Hasang replied that he was a Christian and would remain one till his death. He was tortured, tied to a cross on a cart, and died as a martyr at the age of 45.
List of the Other 101 Martyrs of Korea Canonized in 1984
St Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and these other martyrs were beatified by Pope Pius XI on June 6 1925, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6 1984 at a Mass in Seoul, South Korea.
- Agatha Chon Kyonghyob
- Agatha Kim Agi
- Agatha Kwon Chin-i
- Agatha Yi
- Agatha Yi Kannan
- Agatha Yi Kyong-i
- Agatha Yi Sosa
- Agnes Kim Hyochu
- Alexis U Seyong
- Andrew Chong Hwagyong
- Anna Kim Changgum
- Anna Pak Agi
- Anthony Kim Songu
- Augustine Pak Chongwon
- Augustine Yi Kwanghon
- Augustine Yu Chinkil
- Barbara Cho Chungi
- Barbara Choe Yongi
- Barbara Han Agi
- Barbara Kim
- Barbara Ko Suni
- Barbara Kwon Hui
- Barbara Yi
- Barbara Yi Chonghui
- Bartholomew Chong Munho
- Benedicta Hyong Kyongnyon
- Catherina Chong Choryom
- Catherine Yi
- Cecilia Yu Sosa
- Charles Cho Shinchol
- Charles Hyon Songmun
- Columba Kim Hyoim
- Damian Nam Myonghyok
- Elizabeth Chong Chonghye
- Francis Choe Kyonghwan
- Ignatius Kim Chejun
- Jacques-Honoré Chastan
- Johannes Pak Hujae
- Johannes Yi Munu
- John Baptist Chon Changun
- John Baptist Nam Chongsam
- John Baptist Yi Kwang-nyol
- John Yi Yun-il
- Joseph Chang Chugi
- Joseph Chang Songjib
- Joseph Cho Yunho
- Joseph Han Wonso
- Joseph Im Chipek
- Kim Iulitta
- Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert
- Lawrence Han Ihyong
- Louis Beaulieu
- Lucas Hwang Soktu
- Lucia Kim Kopchu
- Lucia Kim Nusia
- Lucia Pak Huisun
- Magdalena Cho
- Magdalena Han Yongi
- Magdalena Ho Kyeim
- Magdalena Kim Obi
- Magdalena Pak Pongson
- Magdalena Son Sobyok
- Magdalena Yi Yongdok
- Magdalena Yi Yonghui
- Maria Pak Kunagi
- Maria Won Kwiim
- Maria Yi Indok
- Maria Yi Yonhui
- Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy
- Mark Chong Uibae
- Martha Kim Songim
- Martin-Luc Huin
- Paul Ho Hyob
- Paul Hong Yongju
- Perpetua Hong Kimju
- Peter Cho Hwaso
- Peter Choe Changhub
- Peter Choe Hyong
- Peter Chong Wonji
- Peter Hong Pyongju
- Peter Kwon Tugin
- Peter Nam Kyongmun
- Peter Son Sonji
- Peter Yi Hoyong
- Peter Yi Myongso
- Peter Yu Chongnyul
- Peter Yu Tae-chol
- Pierre Aumaitre
- Pierre-Henri Dorie
- Pierre-Philibert Maubant
- Protasius Chong Kukbo
- Rosa Kim Nosa
- Sebastian Nam Igwan
- Siméon-François Berneux
- Simon-Marie-Just Ranfer de Bretenières
- Stephen Min Kuk-ka
- Susanna U Surim
- Teresa Kim
- Teresa Kim Imi
- Teresa Yi Maeim
- Thomas Son Chasuhn
Feast Day
We celebrate the feast day of Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companions on September 20 every year in the Catholic Church.
Today’s Catholic Quote:
“Attentively listen to me, the communication I have held with foreigners has been for my religion and my God, and for Him, I will die.”
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
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