SEOUL (UCAN): Authorities in the South Korean capital, Seoul, have installed a new plaque as part of the renovation process of Gwanghwamun Square where Pope Francis beatified 124 Catholic martyrs during his visit in 2014.
The new plaque was unveiled to the public on August 6, the Catholic Times of Korea reported, and it explains the meaning behind the beatification of Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions who were martyred for their faith in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Auxiliary Bishop Benedictus Hee-Song Son of Seoul, and chairperson of the Archdiocesan Martyr Exaltation Committee, has been monitoring the renovation process in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan authority.
South Korean prime minister, Han Duck-soo, said he hopes the site will educate visitors about the history of the nation.
“The area linking Gwanghawmun Square, Gyeongbok Palace and Cheong Wa Dae is a key centre of our long history, brilliant culture and democratisation,” Yonhap News Agency quoted him as saying.
“I anticipate that along with Cheong Wa Dae that has returned to citizens, the square will become a tourist attraction to be frequented by people from all over the world,” he added.
Cheong Wa Dae— commonly known as the Blue House—is the former presidential residence, while Gwanghwamun Square stands in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace where numerous Christians were persecuted and killed during the rule of the Joseon dynasty that lasted from 1392 to 1910.
In God’s mysterious providence, the Roman Catholic faith was not brought to the shores of Korea by missionaries. Rather, it entered through the hearts and minds of the Korean people themselves
Pope Francis
Between 1791 and 1888, Paul Yun Ji-chung [1759 to 1791] and 123 other martyrs were killed for refusing to recant their faith.
He was the first Korean Catholic to be persecuted and killed when the Joseon rulers started a lethal crackdown during the early days of Christianity on the peninsula.
Korean Church records say that between 8,000 to 10,000 Catholics were martyred during the persecution that spanned over a century.
During the beatification ceremony in Seoul on 16 August 2014, Pope Francis hailed the Korean martyrs for their great sacrifice.
“In God’s mysterious providence, the Roman Catholic faith was not brought to the shores of Korea by missionaries. Rather, it entered through the hearts and minds of the Korean people themselves,” Pope Francis had remarked.
The 124 martyrs are one step away from sainthood.
The renovated Gwanghwamun Square has been expanded and partially refurbished into a park. It is more than 40,000 square metres in size, more than double that of the previous one at 18,840 square metres.
At its centre is a large bronze statue of King Sejong [1397 to 1450]. He was the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty and hailed as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history.
Authorities have planted 5,000 new trees, including 300 tall ones, effectively increasing the square’s green space from around 2,800 square metres to more than 9,300 square metres, providing more cover from the sun in summer.
