Andrew Kim Taegon

Who they were

The Korean Church was founded by lay people: around 1780 a scholar, Lee Byeok, read Matteo Ricci's book on the true doctrine of God brought from Beijing, embraced the faith and gathered the first Christian community before any priest arrived. From 1802 the state banned Christianity and ordered Christians killed; persecution lasted until religious freedom came in 1882.

Andrew Kim was born in 1821 to a fervent convert family whose house was a place of baptisms; his father was martyred at 44. He went to Macao to study for the priesthood, returned to Korea as a deacon in 1844, secretly brought Bishop Ferréol into the country, and worked with him in hiding. Arrested while trying to send documents to Europe, he was martyred on 16 September 1846, one of the first Korean-born priests.

The miracles

As martyrs, he and his 102 companions, including the lay catechist Paul Chong Hasang, were canonised together in Seoul without the need of approved miracles. Their memorial is 20 September.

Why that counted as sanctity

Andrew Kim, son of a martyr, became a priest for his persecuted people knowing it would cost his life, and served them in secret until he gave it.

Connected on this site

• Ignace Kim Che-jun Saint Parent, Father
• The Korean Martyrs Saint honoured together
• Paul Chong Hasang Saint
  “As martyrs, he and his 102 companions, including the lay catechist Paul Chong Hasang, were canonised together in Seoul without the need of approved miracles.” — this site's research
• The Korean Martyrs Saint
  “Among the thousands who died, 103 were canonised together, among them the first Korean-born priest, St Andrew Kim Taegon, martyred on 16 September 1846, and the lay catechist St Paul Chong Hasang, who walked to China fifteen times to beg for priests and was martyred on 22 September 1839.” — this site's research
• Matteo Ricci Venerable
  “The Korean Church was founded by lay people: around 1780 a scholar, Lee Byeok, read Matteo Ricci's book on the true doctrine of God brought from Beijing, embraced the faith and gathered the first Christian community before any priest arrived.” — this site's research