Dangogae Martyrs' Shrine

Overview

Danggogae Martyrs’ Shrine is a Catholic martyrs’ shrine in Singye-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Toward the end of the Gihae Persecution in 1839, 10 male and female faithful were martyred here by beheading, and the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization introduces it as the martyrdom site of 9 Gihae martyr saints and Blessed Maria Yi Seong-rye. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Seoul and is also called the ‘Shrine of the Mother’ and the ‘Shrine of Life.’

History

According to materials from the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization, Danggogae was originally not an execution ground like Saenamteo or outside Seosomun, and it lay where the mountain ridge running from Muakjae through Ahyeon and Mallijae to the present Yongsan District Office ends, touching the Mancho Stream. When the Gihae Persecution was coming to an end, the court suddenly changed the place for executing believers from the execution ground outside Seosomun to the Danggogae execution ground, at the request of merchants asking not to disturb the New Year great market in 1840. Good News and the shrine website convey the same background.

Accordingly, on January 31, 1840 and on February 1 (lunar December 1839 27~28), 10 people were martyred here by beheading. On January 31, 7 people — Augustine Pak Jong-won, Peter Hong Byeong-ju, Agatha Gwon Jin-i, Agatha Yi Gyeong-i, Magdalene Son So-byeok, Maria Yi In-deok and Maria Yi Seong-rye — and on February 1, 3 people — Paul Hong Yeong-ju, Barbara Choe Yeong-i and John Yi Mun-u — were martyred. The brothers Hong Byeong-ju and Hong Yeong-ju were grandsons of Luke Hong Nak-min, martyred in 1801, and it is said that they were executed a day apart in accordance with Joseon law that forbade executing brothers together.

According to Good News, 9 of them — Pak Jong-won, Hong Byeong-ju, Hong Yeong-ju, Son So-byeok, Yi Gyeong-i, Yi In-deok, Gwon Jin-i, Yi Mun-u and Choe Yeong-i — were raised to sainthood. Yi Seong-rye, wife of Saint Choe Gyeong-hwan and mother of Father Choe Yang-eop, fearing that all her young children would die, once apostatized and left prison, but returned to her husband’s side and was martyred, and was beatified on August 16, 2014.

Architecture and Space

Good News reports that, in connection with redevelopment near the shrine by the City of Seoul, shrine redevelopment work was carried out starting on April 2008 over about 3 years. Through this work it was linked with the nearby neighborhood park, and the park’s name was also changed to Singye History Park, imbued with the history of the martyr saints. The entire shrine was shaped as a mother’s warm embrace, built using traditional Korean houses (hanok) and yellow-earth walls, and the dedication ceremony was celebrated on September 4, 2011 officiated by Cardinal Jeong Jin-seok.

The shrine website explains that Danggogae Martyrs’ Shrine was created under the theme of wild-rose pain and plum-blossom fragrance, symbolizing together the suffering of persecution and the grace of God. There is a Way of the Cross arranged following the life and faith of Blessed Maria Yi Seong-rye, and for this reason it is today called the ‘Shrine of the Mother’ and the ‘Shrine of Life.’

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

Good News introduces Danggogae Martyrs’ Shrine as the land that produced the third largest number of saints, after the Seosomun Intersection and Saenamteo. According to the shrine website, many of the saints martyred here were related by family to the martyrs of the Seosomun Intersection.

References and Sources

1. Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea), related shrine ‘Danggogae Martyrs’ Shrine.’ Confirmed the location of Danggogae, the background of the change of execution site, the January 31, 1840~February 1 list of 10 martyrs, and the brothers Hong Byeong-ju and Hong Yeong-ju.
   https://cbck.or.kr/koreanmartyrs/Shrines/92
2. Good News (Archdiocese of Seoul), shrine and historic site ‘Danggogae Martyrs’ Shrine.’ Confirmed the background of martyrdom, 9 saints and the beatification of Maria Yi Seong-rye (2014.8.16), the redevelopment in 2008~2011 and the dedication ceremony on September 4, 2011.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=2288
3. Danggogae Martyrs’ Shrine, introduction to the shrine. Confirmed the background of martyrdom, the theme of the shrine’s creation, the Way of the Cross, and the nicknames Shrine of the Mother and Shrine of Life.
   https://danggogae.org/%eb%8b%b9%ea%b3%a0%ea%b0%9c%ec%9a%a9%ec%82%b0%ec%88%9c%ea%b5%90%ec%84%b1%ec%a7%80/%ec%84%b1%ec%a7%80%ec%86%8c%ea%b0%9c/