Joseon Christians

Yi Seung-Hun (1756 - April 8, 1801, Ja: Jasul (子述), Ho: Mancheon, baptismal name Peter) was one of the first Roman Catholic martyrs in Korea. He was born in 1756 in Seoul. His father was Soam Yi Dong-uk (蘇巖 李東郁, 1739-?) who rose to the rank of champan (vice-minister) and, after possible initial interest, fiercely opposed the spread of Catholic teachings. His mother was a sister of Yi Ga-hwan (李家煥, 1742-1801), one of the Catholics executed with him in 1801. Yi Seung-hun first came into contact with Catholicism via Yi Byeok in 1779. In 1783-4, he accompanied his father on a diplomatic mission to Beijing, China, and on the suggestion of Yi Byeok contacted the Catholic priests there. He was baptised in Beijing in the spring of 1784. This was the first time that a member of the Korean yangban class was formally baptised as a Christian and he returned to Korea with books, crucifixes, and other Catholic artifacts. Yi Byeok then seems to have taken some time to study the books before declaring himself convinced. He then set about evangelizing those around him, including Gwon Cheol-sin and his younger brother Gwon Il-sin. This was also the moment when he spoke of the Catholic faith to the brothers Jeong Yak-jong, Jeong Yak-jeon, and Jeong Yak-Yong (who recorded the event in his epitaph myojimyeong.

Saint Kim Taegon Andrea (Hangul: 김대건 안드레아, Hanja: 金大建) (1821–1846), generally referred to as Saint Andrew Kim Taegon in English, was the first Korean-born Catholic priest and is the patron saint of Korea. In the late 18th century, Roman Catholicism began to take root slowly in Korea and was introduced by laypeople. In 1836 Korea saw its first consecrated missionaries (members of the Paris Foreign Missions Society) arrive, only to find out that the people there were already practicing Korean Catholics.

Saint Stephen Min Kuk-ka (1787 – 1840) is a Korean Roman Catholic saint. He was martyred by strangulation after refusing to deny his faith. His feast day is January 20, and he is also venerated along with the rest of the 103 Korean martyrs on September 20.

Paul Chong Hasang (1794 or 1795–September 22, 1839) was one of the Korean Martyrs. His feast day is September 22, and he is also venerated along with the rest of the 103 Korean martyrs on September 20.

Saint Anna Pak Agi (박아기 안나) (1782–24 May 1839) is one of 103 Korean Martyrs. Her feast day is May 24, and he is also venerated along with the rest of the 103 Korean martyrs on September 20.

Saint Peter Yu Tae-chol (유대철 베드로) (c. 1826 – October 31, 1839) was one of the 103 canonised Korean Martyrs and a son of a government interpreter named Augustine Nyou Tjin-kil, also a martyr. His feast day is October 21, and he is also venerated along with the rest of the 103 Korean martyrs on September 20. He took place of 103 Martyrs and spread the news about Jesus.

St. Agatha Yi Kyong-i (1814–1840) is a Korean saint and martyr.

Agatha Kwon Chin-i (Korean: 아가타 권진이; Hanja: 權珍伊; 1820–1840) is a Korean Catholic saint, one of the 103 Korean Martyrs.

Suh Sang-ryun (Hangul: 서상륜; Hanja: 徐相崙, 1848-1926), along with his brother Suh Sang-u (Hangul: 서상우; Hanja: 徐相佑), founded the first Protestant church in Korea in 1884. It was established in the village of Sorae, Hwanghae province, where his uncle lived.

John Yi Yun-il (1822 – January 21, 1867) was a Korean Catholic who was killed during the 19th-century Korean persecution of Christians. He was a family man who made his living as a farmer and who also served as a catechist, i.e. a teacher of Christian religion.