Gapgot Martyr Shrine

Overview

Gapgot Martyrs' Shrine is a martyrs' shrine of the Incheon Diocese in Gapgot-ri, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City. It was created on the site of Gapgot Jindu, where three faithful, U Yun-jip, Choe Sun-bok and Pak Sang-son, were martyred after being executed on the charge of visiting an American warship during the Shinmiyangyo in 1871.

History

Ganghwa Island is the site of the Byeongin Yangyo that caused the Byeongin Persecution in 1866. During the Byeongin Yangyo, the French fleet, seeking accountability for the execution of 9 French priests, landed on the Gapgot side and occupied Ganghwa Fortress and Munsusan Fortress, and after the French troops withdrew, a severe persecution began in the Ganghwa region. According to the Good News introduction to shrines, many faithful were martyred on the white sandy beach seen from the Gapgot Shrine.

In 1871, an American fleet appeared in the waters off Ganghwa Island and demanded accountability for the 1866 General Sherman incident and trade, but the Daewongun refused, resulting in armed conflict (Shinmiyangyo). The Daewongun erected anti-Western steles throughout the country and persecuted Catholicism even more severely. According to the beatification materials of the Bishops' Conference, six people at Jemul Jindu and three at Gapgot Jindu—Pak Sang-son, U Yun-jip and Choe Sun-bok—are recorded as martyred.

The Incheon Diocese found the exact location of Gapgot Jindu appearing in the documents, purchased the site and developed the shrine. In November 1999 the shrine was renovated, and in July 2001 the blessing ceremonies for the altar, the Stations of the Cross and the statue of Our Lady were held. On September 20, 2001, the monument to martyrs Pak Sang-son, U Yun-jip and Choe Sun-bok was erected and the remains of witness Pak Sun-jip were interred.

In April 2005, the old chapel was renovated, the blessing ceremony for the church was held, and parts of the relics of Saint Kim Dae-geon and Saint Nam Jong-sam were enshrined. Below the church, an outdoor Mass area, a rosary path and a resting place were created. In 2011, as a project commemorating the 50 anniversary of the establishment of the Incheon Diocese, the construction of the Incheon Diocese 50 Anniversary Spirituality Center was promoted, completed in November 2012 and the blessing Mass was offered in December the following year, thus providing lodging facilities for group retreats for over 100 people, along with a new church, an auditorium and other facilities.

Related places and people

• Peter Pak Sun-jip (1830~1911): As a witness who testified to the deeds of the martyrs, his tomb is inside the shrine. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia (citing Bishops' Conference materials), he was born at the Jeonsaengseo outside the South Gate of Seoul, directly witnessed the martyrdom at Saenamteo during the Byeongin Persecution, and participated in recovering and reinterring the bodies of the martyrs. The testimony he gave at the beatification trial is contained in the <Testimony of Pak Sun-jip> (in 3 volumes in total) and is housed in the Jeoldusan Museum of Korean Catholic Martyrs, covering 153 martyrs. In 1890 he moved to Jemulpo and died on June 27, 1911.
• Jinmuyeong Martyrs' Shrine: It was a military camp established in 1700 (the 26 year of King Sukjong) for coastal defense, and on May 22, 1868, John Choe In-seo, Jang Chi-seon, Mr. Pak, Mr. Jo and others were martyred here. The place where Jinmuyeong stood is near Ganghwa Church, and a memorial place has been created within the grounds of Ganghwa Church.

References and sources

1. Good News, Shrines and Historic Sites: Gapgot Martyrs' Shrine. Confirms the background of the Byeongin and Shinmi expeditions, the development history from 1999 to 2013, the interment of Pak Sun-jip's remains, the church blessing ceremony and enshrinement of relics in 2005, and the completion of the Spirituality Center.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=2269
2. Episcopal Commission for Beatification and Canonization of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Related Shrines: Gapgot Martyrs' Shrine and Jinmuyeong. Confirms Ganghwa Island and Catholicism, 3 martyrs of the Shinmiyangyo, a brief biography of Peter Pak Sun-jip, and the Jinmuyeong martyrdom.
   https://cbck.or.kr/koreanmartyrs/Shrines/80