Korea Catholic Church Founding Site

Overview

The Founding Site of the Korean Catholic Church is a church historical site in Seoul commemorating the place where, in 1784, Yi Seung-hun baptized Yi Byeok, Kwon Il-sin, Jeong Yak-yong and others in Yi Byeok's house, giving rise to the first lay-centered faith community. A commemorative marker stands along Cheonggyecheon Stream, and it is the third pilgrimage site on Course 1 'Way of the Word' of the Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route.

History

According to the Martyrs' Veneration Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul, Yi Seung-hun, the first baptized member of the Korean Catholic Church, was baptized by Father Grammont at Beitang in Beijing around February 1784 under the baptismal name 'Peter' and returned to Korea. Later that year, on the lunar September, in Yi Byeok's house near Supyo Bridge in Seoul, he baptized Yi Byeok (John the Baptist), Kwon Il-sin (Francis Xavier), Jeong Yak-yong (John) and others, and Yi Byeok in turn baptized Choe Chang-hyeon, Choe In-gil, Kim Jong-gyo and others, forming a community of believers. Good News Catholic Information describes this as the formation of the first voluntary faith community by lay people.

The timing of the baptisms is expressed slightly differently in each source: the lunar September (Martyrs' Veneration Committee), early winter (Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route), and winter (Good News Catholic Information and the wording on the marker). The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture states that in early winter of 1784, a collective baptismal rite was held in Yi Byeok's rented house, establishing the Korean Catholic Church. When the gathering place later became too small, the faithful moved their meetings to Kim Beom-u's house, forming the Myeongnyebang Community.

Architecture and Space

The Martyrs' Veneration Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul erected the 'Founding Site of the Korean Catholic Church' commemorative marker on August 28, 2011 and held a blessing ceremony officiated by Cardinal Jeong Jin-seok on September 26. According to Good News Catholic Information, the marker stands on the sidewalk between Samil Bridge and Supyo Bridge along Cheonggyecheon Stream, consisting of a granite stele set on a pedestal stone 98 cm wide, 75 cm deep and 20 cm high, with dark stone attached. The marker is inscribed with text stating that in winter of 1784, the first baptismal ceremony was held here, at what was then Yi Byeok's house near Supyo Bridge, founding the Korean Catholic Church.

The exact site of Yi Byeok's house has not been confirmed. Good News Catholic Information explains that the marker was erected nearby because Jeong Yak-yong's 'Yeoyudang Jeonseo' records that Yi Byeok's house stood between Supyo Bridge, lot 43 in Supyo-dong, now Jung-gu, and lot 152 in Gwansu-dong, now Jongno-gu. The Martyrs' Veneration Committee states that Yi Byeok's house is presumed to have been south of Supyo Bridge, across Cheonggyecheon Stream from the present marker site, but the marker was installed here for lack of a suitable place. It also says that the nearby Supyo Bridge is a new bridge built during the Cheonggyecheon restoration project and has no historical connection with the old Supyo Bridge.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

The Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route website introduces this place as a meaningful site as the 'Founding Site of the Korean Catholic Church' in that the first faith community was born here voluntarily through lay people. Course 1 'Way of the Word' has a total distance of 8.7km, about 3 hours 40 minutes on foot, and after the site of Kim Beom-u's house, it passes this site and continues to the site of the Left Podocheong Office.

Related Places and Figures

• Site of Kim Beom-u's House (Site of the Jangagwon): the site of the Myeongnyebang Community where the baptized community later held regular gatherings.
• Myeongdong Cathedral: the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul built in 1898 in the area where the Myeongnyebang Community was located.
• Yi Seung-hun (Peter), Yi Byeok (John the Baptist), Kwon Il-sin, Jeong Yak-yong: early believers associated with the baptisms at this place.

References and Sources

1. Martyrs' Veneration Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul, entry on the Founding Site of the Korean Catholic Church in 'Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route: Way of the Word (Course 1)'. Confirmed the background of Yi Seung-hun's baptism, the baptisms in Yi Byeok's house, the erection and blessing of the marker in 2011, and the presumed location of Yi Byeok's house.
   https://martyrs.or.kr/_web/mpilgrims/aboutcourse.html?cidx=6
2. Good News Catholic Information, 'Myeongdong Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul', section 'Founding Site of the Korean Catholic Church - Near Supyo Bridge'. Confirmed the dimensions and inscription of the marker, the location of Yi Byeok's house based on the 'Yeoyudang Jeonseo', and the explanation of Supyo Bridge.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/mobile/sa_ho/list/view.asp?ctxtOrgCode=71&ctxtOrgNum=2289&menugubun=holyplace&Orggubun=71
3. Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route (seoulpilgrim.com), 'Course 1: Way of the Word'. Confirmed its meaning as the third pilgrimage site and the wording on the marker.
   https://seoulpilgrim.com/course/1/
4. The Academy of Korean Studies, Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, entry 'Myeongnyebang Community'. Confirmed the collective baptism in Yi Byeok's rented house in early winter of 1784 and the transition to the Myeongnyebang Community.
   https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0069925