Chimyeongja Mountain Martyrs' Shrine

About this place

This mountain was formerly called Seungamsan (Middle Rock Mountain), but since Catholic martyrs were buried on its summit, it has come to be known as Chimyeongja Mountain (Mountain of Martyrs) or Rugalda Mountain. Here rest seven martyrs in a single tomb: Yu Hang-geom (Augustine) and his wife Sin Hui, his eldest son Yu Jung-cheol (John) and daughter-in-law Yi Sun-i (Lugarda), second son Yu Mun-seok (John), sister-in-law Yi Yuk-hui, and nephew Yu Jung-seong (Matthew). These seven were executed between September and four months later during the Sinyu Persecution of 1801 (the 1st year of King Sunjo), at Jeonju's South Gate (present-day Jeondong Cathedral site), Jeonju Prison, and Sup-jeong-i. Surviving servants and relatives secretly gathered the bodies, but as they could not be buried in their hometown of Choryo in Namseo-myeon, Iksan-gun, they were temporarily buried in a rocky spot in Jaenam-ri across the fields. On April 19, 1914, Father Baudounet and parishioners of Jeondong Cathedral moved them to the summit of this mountain. Today, the site includes a pilgrimage information center, pilgrims' chapel, summit memorial chapel, ceramic kiln oratory, clergy cemetery, observation deck, and Jesus-Mary Rock.