Asan Gongse-ri Seongdang

About this place

Built on a hill in Gongse-ri, Inju-myeon, which links Asan Bay and the Sapgyocheon Stream, this is a parish church belonging to the Daejeon Diocese of the Catholic Church, the place where early missionaries landed at the port and began evangelization; the church was established in 1894. At first, an ordinary house in the middle of the village was used as a church, but a rectory was built in 1897, and the parish church was completed in 1922, becoming the first parish church in Chungcheongnam-do; from here the Gongju, Anseong, Onyang, and Dunpo parishes were separated. Within the grounds are the tombs of three people who were martyred during the Byeongin Persecution, and the grounds contain a parish church of 429.75 sq m (130 pyeong), a rectory, a retreat house, a meeting hall, and so on; surrounded by centuries-old zelkova trees and various woods, it is a Catholic holy site of very beautiful scenery. This Gongse-ri is the place where the Gongsegot storehouse once stood, from which the taxes of 39 districts, including Asan, Seosan, and Hansan, as well as Cheongju and Okcheon, were sent during the Joseon Dynasty by grain-transport ships to the state granary in Seoul. Travel information for encountering the charm of the Korean Wave: With its Gothic-style red brick and tall spire that look like a painting, this is a place selected in 2005 as the most beautiful cathedral representing the Republic of Korea, in an event organized by the Korea Tourism Organization. It possesses numerous cultural properties and nationally protected trees and boasts a history of over 130 years. Owing to its distinctive lyrical atmosphere, it has become famous as a filming location for many films, dramas, and commercials. It is good to tour together with the Gongseri Catholic Church Holy Site Museum.