The site was historically used as a military training ground and a location for public executions during the Joseon Dynasty.
It is the place where the first Catholic priest in Korea, Father Pierre Maubant, and other French missionaries were martyred.
The current church building was completed in 1987 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Catholicism in Korea.
The shrine holds the relics of several canonized saints, including Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Korea's first native priest.
The architectural design intentionally integrates the Hanok style of traditional Korean houses with modern church aesthetics.
The Catholic Saenamteo Martyrdom Shrine is a historic site located on the grounds where numerous early Korean Catholic priests and laypeople were executed by the Joseon Dynasty government. The site features a distinctive modern architectural structure designed to resemble a traditional Korean fortress gate, blending religious heritage with architectural innovation. It serves as a significant pilgrimage destination for Catholics and a commemorative site for those who died during the persecutions of 1801, 1839, and 1846. The grounds include a dedicated memorial museum that houses artifacts and historical records detailing the life and sacrifice of the martyrs. The shrine is recognized as a major historical landmark in Seoul, marking the specific location where execution by beheading took place in the past.
The main exterior staircase and the central plaza featuring the memorial cross provide the best views of the building's unique gate-like architecture.
Visit the memorial museum inside the complex to better understand the historical context of the site.
The shrine grounds offer quiet, elevated paths that provide a unique perspective of the surrounding Yongsan district.
Check the official schedule before visiting if you wish to attend a memorial mass, as these are held regularly.
Avoid treating the memorial areas as purely recreational park space; maintain decorum appropriate for a pilgrimage site.
The memorial museum typically remains closed on Mondays.
Dress modestly as this is a sacred religious site; maintain silence while indoors or near the prayer areas.
