Galmaemot Martyrs' Shrine

Overview

Galmaemot Shrine is a martyrdom shrine of the Diocese of Daejeon at Yeongbo-ri, Ocheon-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do, a seaside sandy beach where five saints — Bishop Daveluy, Fathers Omettre and Huin, and lay leaders Luke Hwang Seok-du and Joseph Jang Ju-gi — were martyred by military beheading during the persecution of 1866. In 2013 it was designated a Chungcheongnam-do monument under the name ‘Boryeong Galmaemot Catholic Martyrdom Site.’

History

[The name Galmaemot] The Special Committee for Beatification and Canonization of the Korean Bishops’ Conference explains that ‘Galmaemot’ originated because the sea off Yeongbo-ri, enclosed by land and islands on both sides, looks like a pond. The Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture describes it as a pond in the Naepo region where Catholic activity was very vigorous in the early days of the faith. The reason this place was used as an execution ground was that the naval headquarters of the Chungcheong provincial naval commander was at nearby Ocheon Port (Bishops’ Conference). The Digital Boryeong Culture Encyclopedia describes it as a seaside execution ground about 2 km along the coastal road from Chungcheong Suyeong Fortress.

[The Byeongin persecution and the arrest of the five saints] According to Good News, Bishop Daveluy, appointed the 5th head of the Joseon diocese in March 1866, was arrested in the Naepo region on the 11th, only four days later, together with Luke Hwang Seok-du, who was his catechist assistant. After his attempt to meet the Daewongun failed, he decided to give himself up to prevent further sacrifices among the faithful, sent letters to fellow missionaries urging them to surrender, and was then taken. Materials of the Bishops’ Conference state that Bishop Daveluy entered Joseon in 1845, was consecrated auxiliary bishop, became diocesan bishop on March 7, 1866 when the 4th bishop, Bishop Berneux, was martyred, and that Fathers Omettre and Huin surrendered so that the faithful would suffer no further harm. They were transferred to the Seoul Police Office, interrogated two or three times, sentenced to military beheading on March 23 (lunar February 7), and Joseph Jang Ju-gi, brought from Jecheon in Chungcheong-do, received the same sentence the next day. Daejeon diocesan materials state that Bishop Daveluy was first arrested at Silli (Hapdeok-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do).

[Why it became the execution site and the martyrdom (1866)] The Bishops’ Conference states that when they were sentenced, the royal selection of King Gojong’s queen was scheduled at court, so they could not be executed in Seoul or its vicinity, and the court fixed the execution site at the Boryeong naval camp and transferred the five there (Good News states that the king’s illness and the royal wedding were near and the site was moved to the Boryeong naval camp more than 250 ri from Seoul, while the Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture states that only one month remained before the king’s wedding). The five martyrs died on the sandy beach at Galmaemot on Good Friday, March 30, 1866 (lunar February 14). Good News states that this is where the five saints and more than 5 hundred unnamed faithful were martyred.

[Transfer of the remains] According to Good News and the Bishops’ Conference, Hwang Seok-du’s remains were soon recovered by his family and buried in his hometown Yeonpung (Good News), while the remains of the other four were buried in the sand near the execution ground three days later and then moved by the faithful (to Seodeulgol in Nampo, Hongsan in early June according to the Bishops’ Conference, and to what is now the Seojitgol shrine in Boryeong that summer according to Good News). In March 1882 they were exhumed on the instructions of Father Blanc, taken to Nagasaki, Japan, then brought back to Joseon, placed in Myeongdong church in 1900, and from 1967 (the 1960s according to Good News) enshrined in the basement church of the Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Museum. The five martyrs were canonized in 1984 (Bishops’ Conference, Digital Boryeong Culture Encyclopedia).

[Beginning of the shrine (1925–1985)] Good News states that Father Jeong Gyu-ryang identified the martyrdom site in 1925 and purchased 20 pyeong of land the following year, laying the foundation of the shrine, while the Digital Boryeong Culture Encyclopedia states that sacralization began when Father Jeong Gyu-ryang of Geumsari parish identified the site in 1926 and purchased the land. In September 1975 Father John Jeong Yong-taek, pastor of Daecheon parish in the Diocese of Daejeon, reconfirmed the location at the time of martyrdom and erected a monument to the blessed martyrs, making the Galmaemot martyrdom shrine widely known (Good News, Bishops’ Conference), and additional land in the area was purchased at that time (Culture Encyclopedia). In September 1985 a monument to the five sainted martyrs (canonization monument) and an outdoor altar were erected.

[Development of the shrine (1999–2008)] The Culture Encyclopedia states that a chapel, rectory and convent were built in 1999, while Good News states that development began in earnest when the Galmaemot shrine parish was established in February 2003. In October 2006 the Church of Our Lady of Victory (Galmaemot Shrine Church), overlooking the seaside execution site from the shrine hill, was completed and blessed. In April 2008 the building formerly used as a chapel and exhibition hall was renovated and arranged as the Galmaemot Martyrdom Shrine Memorial Hall, displaying relics.

[Cultural property designation (2013)] On February 12, 2013 Galmaemot Shrine was designated a Chungcheongnam-do monument under the name ‘Boryeong Galmaemot Catholic Martyrdom Site.’ The designation number is given differently as No. 188 by the Digital Boryeong Culture Encyclopedia and No. 183 by Good News. The designated cultural property area is 2,490 square meters and is owned and managed by the Daejeon Diocese Catholic Church Maintenance Foundation (Culture Encyclopedia).

Architecture and Grounds

The Digital Boryeong Culture Encyclopedia states that the Galmaemot Catholic Martyrdom Site occupies 23,100 square meters and consists of the Church of Our Lady of Victory at its center, with a memorial exhibition hall, offices, dining hall, rectory and convent, busts of the five saints, the Way of the Cross, parking lots and other facilities. The church stands on the shrine hill overlooking the seaside execution site (Good News). A martyrs’ monument (1975) and a canonization monument (1985) have been erected. The Culture Encyclopedia states that 4–5 ten thousand pilgrims visit each year.

Related Places and People

• Bishop Antoine Daveluy (1818–1866): from Amiens, France, he entered Joseon in 1845 with Bishop Ferréol and Father Kim Dae-geon and was ordained bishop in 1857. His “Memorandum on the Martyrs of Joseon” became an important source for Dallet’s “History of the Catholic Church in Korea” (Diocese of Daejeon).
• Father Luc Huin (1836–1866): he entered in 1864, ministered in the Naepo region and was martyred at age 30 (Diocese of Daejeon).
• Father Pierre Omettre (1837–1866): he entered in 1863, ministered at Saemgol, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, surrendered himself and was martyred at age 29 (Diocese of Daejeon).
• Luke Hwang Seok-du: from Yeonpung, Chungcheongbuk-do, he was Bishop Daveluy’s assistant and lay leader (Diocese of Daejeon, Bishops’ Conference).
• Joseph Jang Ju-gi: he was the householder of the Baeron seminary and a community leader (Diocese of Daejeon).
• Seojitgol Shrine: the place in Boryeong where the remains of the four martyrs were transferred in 1866. The Bishops’ Conference gives it as Seodeulgol in Nampo, Hongsan (Good News, Bishops’ Conference).

References and Sources

1. Catholic Good News Shrines and Historic Sites, “Galmaemot Martyrdom Shrine” (Diocese of Daejeon). Arrest and martyrdom of the five saints, transfer of remains, shrine development after 1925 and monument designation in 2013.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=2299
2. Digital Boryeong Culture Encyclopedia, “Boryeong Galmaemot Catholic Martyrdom Site.” Construction history (1926–2006), designated cultural property area of 2,490 square meters, facilities and visitor figures.
   http://www.grandculture.net/boryeong/toc/GC08800910
3. Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture, “Galmaemot.” Arrest of Bishop Daveluy and companions during the Byeongin persecution, execution at the Boryeong naval camp, transfer of remains.
   https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0000642
4. Special Committee for Beatification and Canonization of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, “Related Shrines – Galmaemot.” Origin of the place name, sentencing and martyrdom dates, transfer of remains and identification of the martyrdom site in 1975.
   https://www.cbck.or.kr/koreanmartyrs/Shrines/68
5. Catholic Diocese of Daejeon, shrine guide “Galmaemot Martyrdom Shrine.” Circumstances of martyrdom and brief biographies of the five saints.
   https://www.djcatholic.or.kr/home/pages/re_shrine_view.php?ids=shrine19