Pope Francis visited the sanctuary in August 2014 during his apostolic visit to South Korea to preside over the Sixth Asian Youth Day.
The Vatican officially elevated Haemi to the status of an International pilgrimage shrine in March 2020, making it the second in Asia after the Seoul Pilgrimage Routes.
During the 19th-century persecutions, victims were often drowned in the nearby streams or buried alive at the site since executioners sought to save gunpowder.
Excavations conducted between 1995 and 2014 uncovered the remains of over 1,300 martyrs and numerous religious artifacts buried in the soil.
The stone bridge within the complex, known as the Hapdeok Bridge or Jinbeom Bridge, is where Catholic prisoners were crossed over to face execution.
A tree within the sanctuary grounds, an old pagoda tree, still bears iron wire scars from where martyrs were bound over a century ago.
The sanctuary grounds directly overlap with portions of the historic Haemi Eupseong, a stone fortress originally constructed in 1417 to defend against Japanese pirate raids.
The Catholic Haemi International Sanctuary in Seosan-si, South Korea, marks a historic site where thousands of Catholic martyrs were executed during the Byeongin persecution of 1866 and earlier crackdowns under the Joseon Dynasty. Recognized by the Vatican as an international pilgrimage site in 2020, it serves as a central spiritual destination for Catholics worldwide. The grounds encompass a large memorial cathedral, the original fortress wall where prisoners were tied and tortured, and mass grave excavation sites. A prominent 50-meter-high white memorial tower stands as a striking architectural landmark visible across the flat surrounding landscape. Visitors can explore a museum housing recovered artifacts, traditional burial grounds, and commemorative outdoor sculptures. The sanctuary integrates historical remnants of the Haemi Eupseong fortress with sacred religious spaces.
The plaza in front of the soaring white memorial tower, capturing its modern geometric lines against the sky.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the sanctuary grounds cover a vast area combining paved pathways, grassy fields, and gravel historical zones.
Pick up a detailed English map at the visitor center to locate all monument sites, burial locations, and the museum.
Allow at least two hours to properly explore both the outdoor pilgrimage trail and the indoor exhibition halls.
Treating the execution sites and memorial monuments as casual photo backdrops without acknowledging their solemn historical context.
Maintain a quiet and respectful demeanor throughout the grounds, as it is an active Catholic pilgrimage destination and memorial site.
