Yu Tae-Ch’ol was born in 1826 and the son of a government interpreter in Korea. His father was Catholic and raised him in this manner, giving him the name of Petrus, after Saint Peter. His mother would not become Catholic and tried very hard to hinder her son from practicing his faith and forced him to offer sacrifices to the ancestors.

His mother and sister inquired him as to why he would not obey his mother. He gently replied that it was not proper to obey his mother and disobey the Heavenly King and the Father of all creatures. In other matters, except faith, he obeyed his mother.

The Catholic Church in Korea, at that time, was facing severe persecution. Many missionary priests and bishops who came to Korea, were captured, tortured, and killed, dying as martyrs. His father was imprisoned for his faith and killed. Petrus Yu Tae Ch’ol was deeply moved and impressed by the heroic example of him and the other martyrs. He could not control his love for God and gave himself up to the government authorities in July of 1839.

After interrogations, the judge placed him in prison. The judge tried every means to have Petrus deny God with persuasion, threats and torture but he would not cave. On one occasion, he was beaten so severely that he fainted. After fellow inmates helped him recover consciousness, he said, “Don’t worry. I will not die because of this pain.”

He was interrogated 14 times and tortured on 14 different occasions. He sustained broken bones, and flesh was being torn off with the beatings but he always remained resilient, happy and with a smile on his face, ridiculing those bent on destroying his faith in Jesus.

The government officials wanted him beaten to death but as a miracle, he would not die. It was then that he was strangled and died in prison on October 31, 1839 at the age of 13.

He is the youngest of the 103 Korean martyrs.

His feast day is October 21.

For God’s Glory.