KOREA FOUNDATION

Jeondong Cathedral, officially the Jeondong Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, stands at the entrance of Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The cathedral is located on the site where the blessed Paul Yun Ji-chung and Jacobus Kwon Sang-yeon were martyred on December 8, 1791.

In the spring of 1891, the church acquired the site to commemorate the centennial of the two Catholics’ martyrdom. The cathedral’s first provost, François-Xavier Baudounet, began construction of the building in 1908. Designed by Victor Louis Poisnel, the priest and architect who designed Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, the cathedral was completed in 1914, bringing the centennial project to fruition after 23 years.

By adopting the Romanesque architectural style, the cathedral combines elements of the East and the West. Its atmosphere is both unique and provides the warmth of motherly love. Inside the red brick building, a granite floor looks up to the dome ceiling. The central bell tower is flanked by smaller towers on both sides, enhancing the three-dimensional, soaring effect of the building. People will often stop by to photograph the Byzantine-style bell towers, which create a beautiful harmony with the building.

In front of the cathedral, a statue of Jesus Christ and a monument with an engraving that reads “Site of the First Martyrdom in Korea” remind visitors of the painful history of Catholicism in Korea and the fact that the site is the birthplace of evangelization in Jeolla Province.

Written by Lee Haeng-rim
Illustrated by EEWHA

Jeonju Hanok Village Jeondong CathedralMartyrdom site