Catholics in Korea launch a 200-meter tunnel, “Martyr’s Hill,” at Namyang Shrine to honor 19th-century martyrs and inspire spiritual reflection.
Newsroom (27/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) A new chapter of remembrance has begun at one of Korea’s most venerated Catholic sites. At the Namyang Shrine, a Marian sanctuary built where thousands were executed for their faith during the 19th-century Byeongin Persecution, Catholics are constructing a 200-meter-long tunnel designed to immerse visitors in the lives, suffering, and faith of the nation’s early Christian martyrs.
On March 19, Auxiliary Bishop Germanus Kwak Jin-sang of Suwon led the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, aptly named Martyr’s Hill. The ceremony, attended by clergy, religious, and the faithful, marked the start of what Church leaders call a living memorial — one meant not merely to recall the past, but to invite pilgrims into contemplative solidarity with those who gave their lives for Christ.
“It is a space to remember and honor the martyrs,” said Father Francis Xavier Lee Sang-gak, rector of the Namyang Shrine. “The sound of their rosary prayers still echoes here. I hope this space helps enrich our individual faith, not through tombs or sculptures, but through experience — an encounter with their witness.”
A Sacred Landscape of Memory
The tunnel will be built alongside the shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which has stood since its consecration in 1991 as the first Marian shrine of the Korean Church. It sits on ground sanctified by blood — where, between 1866 and 1886, roughly 9,000 Catholics, nearly half of Korea’s then-Catholic population, were executed under state persecution.
During the Joseon Dynasty, Namyang held grim importance: it was the jurisdiction of the provincial governor, who carried judicial powers that condemned many Christians to death. Records such as The Diary of the Martyrs and Testimonies of the Byeongin Martyrs preserve the names of those who perished here — among them the couple Philip Kim and Mary Park, as well as Philip Jeong and Thomas Kim Hong-seo. Their witness continues to inspire Korean Catholics, who see Namyang not as a place of death, but of eternal hope.
A Pilgrimage Through Life, Death, and Renewal
The design of Martyr’s Hill reflects a spiritual journey. The tunnel will feature designated prayer spaces such as the Path of Penance, incorporating three stations for reflection and rest. Proceeding onward, pilgrims will arrive at the Path of Obedience, ending at a cemetery — a solemn reminder of those who remained steadfast unto death. Finally, the Path of Peace will open toward a chapel, symbolizing resurrection and eternal life.
Architect Seung Hyo-sang, involved in the design since 2021, described the project as both personal and collective. “I hope this will help us remember the nameless martyrs of the past,” he said. “And I hope it also becomes a place where we commemorate ourselves — as we inscribe our names and resolve to be martyred and reborn.”
A Place Where Heaven and History Meet
For the faithful, the tunnel’s winding passage will mirror the inner pilgrimage of faith — from repentance to surrender, from sorrow to peace. Located adjacent to the rosary path that already attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, Martyr’s Hill will deepen the site’s role as a center of prayer and reflection.
In a country where the Catholic Church grew out of the courage of its martyrs, the project transforms stone and silence into testimony. At Namyang, the faithful can now walk not only in the shadows of history but through a living symbol of endurance — a tunnel where faith moves from darkness toward light.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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