Jinmu Young Martyr Shrine

Overview

The Jinmuyoung Martyrs’ Shrine is a shrine of the Catholic Diocese of Incheon established within the grounds of Ganghwa Church in Gwancheong-ri, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon. Jinmuyoung was a military garrison created in the Joseon period by organizing the troops of Ganghwa Island and its surroundings for coastal defense, and it is the place where Catholic believers were executed during the Byeongin Persecution on the lunar date May, 1868. The shrine was established in 2004 by Ganghwa Parish within the church grounds.

History

According to the Good News introduction to shrines, Jinmuyoung was a military garrison created by bringing together Ganghwa Island, a strategic point for coastal defense, and its surrounding troops in the reign of Sukjong. Accounts differ on the date of its establishment, but the records of the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea state that it was established in 1700 (the 26 year of Sukjong) for maritime defense. Its functions were expanded following the Byeongin Yangyo in 1866, and after Jang Chiseon, Choe Yeongjun, Mr. Park, Mr. Jo and others were martyred on the lunar date May, 1868 on charges of communicating with foreigners, it became a place of execution for Catholic believers.

The records of the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization note that on May 22, 1868, Choe Inseo John, chairman of Aeogae, Jang Chiseon, nephew of Saint Jang Jugi Joseph, Mr. Park, Mr. Jo and others were martyred at Jinmuyoung. Good News gives the martyrs’ names as Jang Chiseon, Choe Yeongjun, Mr. Park and Mr. Jo, using the name Choe Yeongjun instead of Choe Inseo. Both sources report that, while 9 of 12 clergy and more than 1 ten thousand believers were being executed in the Byeongin Persecution, Choe Inseo, Choe Yeongjun in the Good News rendering, and Jang Chiseon helped Father Ridel, one of the surviving priests, escape by boat to Tianjin, China, and sought to call a French ship to report the persecution, rescue the remaining believers and spread Catholicism. The Bishops’ Conference records explain that they were executed for the crime of having gone as far as Shanghai to bring a Western ship and seek freedom of faith, rescue of the remaining faithful and evangelization.

Good News states that the exact location of the former Jinmuyoung site is unknown, and estimates the Jinmuyoung site to have stretched from Eunhye Church on the site of the former Ganghwa Agricultural Cooperative to Ganghwa Church about 200m to the north. The Bishops’ Conference records explain that the place where Jinmuyoung stood was near the Ganghwa Church property.

Architecture and Space

According to Good News, Ganghwa Parish established the Jinmuyoung Martyrs’ Shrine within the church grounds in 2004 and welcomes pilgrims. The records of the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization describe that a place commemorating this has been created within the precincts of Ganghwa Church.

Related Places and Figures

• Gapgot Martyrs’ Shrine: a martyrs’ shrine of the Diocese of Incheon in the same Ganghwa Island area, introduced together by the Bishops’ Conference records as ‘Gapgot Martyrs’ Shrine and Jinmuyoung’
• Choe Inseo John (Choe Yeongjun): chairman of Aeogae, reported to have been martyred at Jinmuyoung in 1868
• Jang Chiseon: nephew of Saint Jang Jugi Joseph, reported to have been martyred at Jinmuyoung in 1868
• Father Ridel: one of the surviving priests during the Byeongin Persecution, who escaped to China with the help of Choe Inseo and Jang Chiseon

References and Sources

1. Good News, Catholic Internet of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Shrines and Historic Sites ‘Jinmuyoung Martyrs’ Shrine’. Confirmed the nature of Jinmuyoung, the martyrdom events of 1868, the estimation of the Jinmuyoung site, and the establishment of the shrine in 2004.
   https://app.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=2267
2. Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Related Shrines ‘Gapgot Martyrs’ Shrine and Jinmuyoung’. Confirmed the date of Jinmuyoung’s establishment (1700), the martyrs who died on May 22, 1868, and the circumstances of martyrdom.
   https://cbck.or.kr/koreanmartyrs/Shrines/80