Korean Martyrs Blessed Religious Order

History & origins

The Clerical Congregation of the Blessed Korean Martyrs was founded on October 30, 1953, and gradually expanded its system for the formation of religious and clergy. According to the congregation's official history, in June 1986 Bishop Joseph Kim Nam-su of Suwon approved the establishment of a “seminary and novitiate,” providing an institutional basis for formation within the Diocese of Suwon.

On February 10, 1992, the Gajae-ri branch was opened as a seminary for student religious attending Suwon Catholic University. On September 26, 1994, the novitiate and seminary at the Gajae-ri branch were dedicated, and the seminary previously located in Seoul was integrated into this house. The dedication was presided over by Bishop Kim Nam-su of Suwon.

The formation function was strengthened further when, in February 2001, the postulancy and candidacy were moved from the Blessed Martyrs' Love Retreat House to Gajae-ri. Today the Catholic Church directory registers the congregation's community at 143 Yaksuteo-gil, Paltan-myeon, Hwaseong, as “Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Seminary.”

This chronology shows the development of the place as more than a residence for religious: it became a center where theological study and preparation for religious life are joined. The published official history does not separately explain every change between the older designation “Gajae-ri branch” and the current road-name address, so no further relocation or building history has been inferred. The repeated reference to Gajae-ri in the official chronology shows that the congregation’s formation work within the Diocese of Suwon became concentrated in this area. Separate evidence would be needed to determine when the present facility name and road-name address were adopted. The history therefore describes the verified continuity of the formation function while avoiding any invented date for a new building or a change of name.