Jeoldusan, Korea’s premier martyrs’ shrine, is the place where many Catholic believers were martyred
during the persecutions of 1866.This persecution resulted in the martyrdom of nine French missionaries
and precipitated two attempted invasions, by the French fleet into Joseon.
Jeoldusan Mountain is located near the Hangang River in Hapjeong-dong,
where the Gangbyeonbukno meets Subway Line 2.
Also referred to as Jamdubong (literally meaning “silkworm head” in English),
as it is said to look like a silkworm raising its head high, Jeoldusan used be a famous place in the east of Yanghwajin,
a port on the Hangang River.
At the end of the Joseon period (1392-1910), when anti-Catholic persecution reached its peak, thousands of Catholics
were killed here, earning the mountain the name Jeoldu (literally meaning “to cut off the head” in English).
In order to preserve the symbolism of the site, the Korean Catholic Church held a public contest to choose the design
of a church to be established on the mountain, with the requirement that the design preserves the original state of the lot.
Finally, a design by the Korean architect Lee Hui-Tae, who was active in designing Catholic churches at that time,
was chosen. The place where it sits is testament to the horrifying and bloody history of Catholicism on in Korea.
After the hostilities had ceased the Joseon government began to punish Catholics whom they not only blamed
for the invasion by the French but also wanted to make an example of. While there were many more,
the records show that twenty nine people were executed in this place. Originally called Yanghwajin,
the place became known as “beheading mountain” or “Jeoldusan”.
The Catholic Church acquired the property in 1956.
In 1962, a monument was erected to the martyrs. In 1967, marking the 100th anniversary of the persecution,
a church and museum were built with the hope of aiding believers in understanding and deepening their faith.
In 1968, marking the beatification of the twenty four martyrs, the relics of martyrs were enshrined in the basement
of the church. Presently, the shrine holds the relics of twenty eight martyrs, including one unknown martyr.
During the latter days of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), many Koreans were executed for converting to Catholicism
after the religion was brought here in the 1780s through books written by European missionaries in China.
A series of mass executions were conducted from then, with four major persecutions taking place in the years
of "Shinyu" (1801), "Gihae" (1839), "Byeongo" (1846) and "Byeongin" (1866).
Among them, persecutions in "Byeongin" was one of the bloodiest that lasted for five years.
In the beginning, countless lives were taken at an execution ground on Jeoldu from 1866 to 1867.
The name "Jeoldu" which means "beheading" in Chinese characters, was bestowed on the hill after the persecution.
The number of those martyred is still unclear. Some argue it hovers between 3,000 and 10,000,
while officials at the Jeoldusan Shrine say about 177 were killed there. However, only 29 deaths are recorded there.
Twenty-four were confirmed with some details such as their age, occupation, Christian name or the date of death,
but five remain unidentified.
At the time, Russia had a southward expansion policy. Intimidated by this, the Joseon Kingdom sought a three-party alliance with France and England following advice from some Catholics to Heungseon Daewongun (1820-1898), who was ruling
as a regent.Daewongun asked Catholics to arrange a meeting with French missionaries,
but the missionaries failed to show up on the due date, causing the regent to become angry. Amid rising negative voices
over Catholicism, Daewongun imposed a harsh ban on the religion and started to execute believers.
During the process, nine French missionaries were killed, resulting in a punitive campaign by a French fleet called
the Byeongin Yangyo. It was the first armed encounter between Korea and a Western power.
The fleet attacked the peninsula twice, with several ships approaching Yanghwajin.
The encounter lasted around six weeks in waters off Ganghwa Island and led Daewongun to increase the suppression
of Catholics, as well as bolstering isolationism.
In a declaration, the government said: "The waters of the Han River which is tainted by Western barbarians must be purified
with the blood of Western learners (Catholics). Those Catholics have brought the outlanders here." It turned Yanghwajin
into an execution ground for them.
In October 1866, the government began to execute Catholics. The first victim was the family of Francis Ui-song Lee,
who was a medical practitioner. Lee, whose hometown was in Hwanghae Province, North Korea, converted to Catholicism
along with his wife Maria Ye-bbeun Kim after they migrated to Hanyang (now Seoul); and they tried to expand the religion
in northern areas.
After the government's Catholicism ban, Lee evacuated to Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, with his wife and son Chun-jo,
but they were caught and beheaded on October 22, 1866, and their heads were hung up to be seen by the public.
From then, Peter Han-yeo Kim, Andrew Jin-goo Kim and countless others faced death for their faith.
At Jeoldusan, martyrs were executed for the charge of "bringing in intruders," meaning the French fleet.
According to the shrine, Lee said during questions that "I have heard the French fleet would come to Joseon
(before its arrival)." Others whose trials were recorded were also held on similar charges.