About this place
Gaegapjangteo Martyrdom Shrine is a Catholic shrine in the Gochang area of the Diocese of Jeonju dedicated to remembering and praying with the martyrdom of Blessed Matthias Choe Yeo-gyeom. The shrine’s official guide identifies the site as the place of his martyrdom, and it is currently under the care of the Clerical Congregation of the Blessed Korean Martyrs. Pilgrims are invited to meditate on themes including Choe’s zeal for the faith, his love for his mother, the public humiliation he endured, and his final road to martyrdom.
The meaning of the shrine goes beyond simply marking the place of execution. By following the life of a believer who learned the faith, proclaimed it in his home region, and continued to bear witness under persecution, visitors are led to reflect on evangelization, freedom of faith, love of family, and the decision to remain faithful unto death. Today Gaegapjangteo serves as a pilgrimage site linking the Catholic history of Gochang with Korea’s tradition of martyrdom.
History & origins
Matthias Choe Yeo-gyeom, a native of Mujang in Jeolla Province, learned the Catholic faith from Paul Yun Ji-chung and Louis Gonzaga Yi Jon-chang and later returned to his home region to spread the faith. Arrested during the Sinyu Persecution of 1801, he endured repeated interrogations and punishments before being sent back to his native area. On August 27 of that year he was beheaded at Gaegapjangteo. The beatification and canonization materials of the Korean bishops identify today’s Gaegapjangteo in Gochang as the place of his martyrdom.
Although the old marketplace itself later disappeared, the historical significance of the site was gradually reaffirmed by both the local community and the Church. In June 2004, Gochang County designated Gaegapjangteo as its Local Cultural Heritage No. 1, and together with Gochang Parish of the Diocese of Jeonju a project was undertaken to develop the martyrdom site as a shrine. As spaces and memorial features for recalling the martyr’s life and death were added, the former market site became established as a Catholic pilgrimage shrine.
Choe Yeo-gyeom was beatified with his fellow martyrs by Pope Francis on August 16, 2014. His beatification made the meaning of Gaegapjangteo even clearer: it was no longer remembered merely as an old local execution site, but as an official pilgrimage place honoring one of the Blessed Martyrs of the Korean Church. The shrine today continues this memory by guiding pilgrims through reflections on his life and final journey.
Korean Catholic Places Encyclopedia
Gaegap Market Martyrs' Shrine: history and architecture
Read about the place's history, architecture, people, and events in the Korean Catholic Places Encyclopedia.
Encyclopedia articles are currently available in Korean.
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Building information
- Passenger elevators: 0
- 1 above-ground floors · 0 below-ground floors
- Approved for use in 2012
- Total floor area: 86㎡
Building-register record · · Source
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Sources and updates
- Information Status
- Official
- Source
- Official source
- Data freshness
- Fresh
- Last updated
- Source
- 한국천주교주교회의 온라인 주소록
Diocese
Jeonju Diocese (Diocese of Jeonju)
Official website: https://www.jcatholic.or.kr
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