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:::Tour programs> Special interest tours>Catholic pilgrim |
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• Myongdong cathedral • Kyongbok palace • National folklore museum • Antique street • East Gate market • Cheonggyecheon • Saenamto • Hill of Beheadings • Chonjinam • Mirinae • Korean folk village Day 1 Arrive Seoul (- - -) 60Kms |
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Following breakfast, visit Myoungdong Cathedral. The holiest Catholic ground in Korea, the cathedral is the birthplace of Catholicism in this country and holds the remains of martyrs who gave their lives to realize their religious beliefs. It is the Korea's first Gothic building and an important milestone in the country's architectural history. Built by French priest Coste in 1898, it is the first brick church and purely Gothic style architecture of Korea. It sits 69 meters in length, 28 meters in width and 23 meters in height. The bell tower stands 48 meters high. Following the Cathedral, 
The Saenamteo field lying in proximity to the Han River used to serve as the training ground for soldiers from early Chosun period. It is also where those found guilty of heavy crimes were executed. In 1456, the six administrators who remained loyal to the dethroned king were executed. It was also a persecution ground for Catholics, where many followers were put to death in 1801, 1839, 1846 and 1866 following major crackdowns against the religion. Eleven religious leaders including Korea's first priest Kim Dae-gun (Andrea), the first Chinese priest to enter Korea Zhou Wen Mo, the first foreign bishop to visit Korea, the French Imbert were martyred here as well as many followers. Today there is a cathedral commemorating the 200 years history of Catholicism in Korea. After Saenamteo we move to Jeoldusan. It is a spot near a cliff along the Han River. When French navy ships sailed up the Han River in February 1866 to protest the Catholic persecution, the enraged ruler Daewongun ordered the beheading of a mass of followers. The execution took place in Jamdubong hill which was henceforth known as Jeoldusan, or beheading mountain. The Korean Catholic church opened a memorial in October 1967in tribute to the martyrs 100 years ago. The memorial in Jeoldusan today holds historic materials on the religion in Korea, articles once belonging to the dead, as well as the 28 remains of martyrs, a pilgrim church, education hall and an outdoor exhibition space. In 1996, a church was built in remembrance of the martyrs. Here you will find a statue of Father Kim Dae-gun, Korea's first catholic priest who was martyred in Saenamteo. It was also visited by Pope John Paul II in 1984 when he came to Korea for the canonization mass. In the afternoon we make our way to Cheonjinam. Originally home to a Buddhist temple (Jueosa), it is where Korean Catholicism was born. It initially served as a forum for academic discussions on Confucianism in the mid-18th century, and its Catholic contribution was long unrecognized. However, historic records and headstone scripts attest to the place's significance as the Catholic origin of Korea. It is where Lee Byeok, profoundly moved by Matteo Ricci's De Deo Verax Disputatio, turned a study group into a religious gathering in 1779. He also urged Lee Seung-hoon to go to Beijing to be baptized, which he did in 1784. After being baptized by a French priest in the Beijing church, Lee Seung-hoon came back to Korea in the autumn of 1784 with religious books, medals, statues and other holy materials. Lee Seung-hoon in turn baptized Lee Byeok who went on an active proselytizing campaign. His efforts soon drew pressure and threats from the society and the courts, and Lee was soon placed under house arrest. During this time he refused to drink or eat or even change clothes, devoting himself wholly to praying and meditating on Catholicism. But fifteen days of fasting and meditation completely drained him and he passed away on June 14, 1785 (lunar calendar) at the age of 32. He remained true to his faith until his last moment. Cheonjinam holds a large space available for outdoor masses, the 200th year anniversary monument of the church and a cemetery of the five founding members Jeong Yak-yong, Lee Byeok, Gwon Cheol-shin, Gwon Il-shin and Lee Seung-hoon. Stay overnight in Icheon, a city that is also the cradle of Korean porcelain. Time permitting, we may visit some of the pottery workshops. 
Catholicism had a bloody beginning in Korea, as its early years were marked by persecution and martyrdom. This is the holiest Catholic pilgrim site in Korea, the place where the faithful gathered together and created a community at the time of harshest persecution in 1801 and 1839. The lights peeking out from the house windows at night formed a shape reminiscent of the milky way, and it was since then called Mirinae, the Korean for milky way. At the entrance is a magnificent cathedral built in commemoration of the canonization of 103 saints. Behind the church building are a series of bronze statues that chronicle the tribulations of Jesus from his capture by the Roman soldiers to crucifixion and entombment. We will also find the grave site of martyr Kim Dae-gun, a hall holding father Kim's remains and the Gethsemane hill. It is heavily visited by pilgrims of all religions, and an annual spiritual meeting is held in September. We drop by the Folk Village on our way back to Seoul. Here we will see faithful reenactment of buildings of old architectural style and traditional culture that let the visitors experience the Korean life in the years past. It is an outdoor museum displaying Korea's clothing, culinary and housing history as well as the everyday life of our ancestors. Artists and artisans dressed in Korea's traditional garments (Hanbok) will let us know what life was like on our land in the past. Some 270 buildings including the humble thatched-roof houses of the peasants and 99-room mansions of the nobility illustrate the diversity of Korean culture. Workshops of 20 types demonstrate centuries-old craftsmanship in the art of pottery, bamboo craft, Korean paper, wooden craft, glazed pottery, straw craft, willow craft, handheld fans, cotton looms, silk looms, straw shoes and smoke pipes. Daily performances are held in farm music, tightrope walking, traditional wedding, and seesawing. The village market cooks up tasty Korean cuisine while shops offer traditional handicrafts and artifacts. 