In the late 18th century, Catholicism began to take root slowly in Korea, having been introduced by scholars with its first consecrated missionaries in 1836.

Andrew Kim Taegon, born in 1821, was the first Korean-born Catholic priest. His parents were converts and his father was martyred for practicing Christianity in the heavily Confucian Korea.

At the age of 15, he was baptized and chosen by a visiting priest to be a seminarian. He was sent with two others to the Portuguese Colony of Macao. In 1842, he left as an interpreter for a French admiral aboard a warship. When the admiral returned to France, Kim Taegon tried to return to his homeland through the strictly guarded northern frontier but failed.

Finally making his way, he was ordained a priest in Shanghai after nine years and returned to Korea.

During the Joseon Dynasty, Christianity was suppressed and many Christians were persecuted and executed. Catholics had to practice their faith covertly.

In his home town and vicinity, he catechized the faithful, until Bishop Ferreol summoned him to Seoul. At the Bishop’s command, he tried to introduce French missionaries from China into Korea, enlisting the aid of Chinese fishermen. For this, Father Andrew Kim Taegon was arrested and sent to the central prison where he was charged as the ringleader of a heretical sect and traitor to his country.

In 1846, at the young age of 25, he was tortured and beheaded. His last words were, ‘This is my last hour of life, listen to me attentively: if I have held communication with foreigners, it has been for my religion and my God. It is for Him that I die. My immortal life is on the point of beginning. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death, because God has eternal chastisements in store for those who have refused to know Him.’

He is the patron saint of Korean clergy.

His feast day is September 20.

For God’s Glory.