Page 124 - 영문 이성필성지순례여행

122 Gyeongsang-do Gyeongsang-do 123

107 Wolpyeong Church 108 Choryang Church

554 Gumiwolpyeong-ro, Dudong-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 53 Choryangsang-ro, Dong-gu, Busan http://www.choryang.org

“Ulsan Wolpyeong Church produced 6 martyrs.”
Choryang Church
Wolpyeong Church began on March 8, 1909 when Gelson Engel, a missionary from
Australia, worshiped with Lee Ki-yeon, a member of Jeoneup Church. The first believer of
Wolpyeong Church was Woo Young-sik, a Chinese scholar and a richman of the Woo clan
village. After evangelized by the missionary, he was severely persecuted, but Woo Young-
sik's family and his relatives all believed in Jesus and became the key men of Wolpyeong
Church, leading to the death of martyrs. When Wolpyeong Church members were martyred,
it was before Korea War, and they were martyred by Namro Party, Workers’ Party of South “Choryang Church
Korea. The Communist Party that advocated Godless materialism stood against Christianity has had hard time
and persecuted Christians. The first martyr of Wolpyeong Church was Deacon Woo Du- along with the
bong, Woo Young-sik’s third son, who was visiting his hometown while doing business in nation.”
Gyeongju, he was killed and martyred by communists on April 13, 1948, in the yard of the
village hall for only one reason: believing in Jesus. The second martyr was Deacon Woo Jae-
man, who was killed in February 1950 in a reservoir in front of Wolpyeong Church.
After that, even before the Korean People’s Army came to Ulsan, five days after the
Choryang Church, along with Busanjin Church, is an early church in the Busan
outbreak of the 1950 Korean War, Deacon Jeong Doo-ran, Jo Jae-yeon, and Jo Mal-bok,
area. Missionary William Martyn Baird started Choryang Church in May 1892 at his
who were praying in the chapel, were martyred by the attack of the communists. The sixth
‘Sarangbang’ in Yeongseonhyeon. On November 7 of the same year, he established
martyr was Deacon Woo Sung-man, the younger brother of the second martyr, Deacon
Choryang Church. Missionary William Martyn Baird was interested in education and he
Woo Jae-man, who visited his brother’s house on August 14, 1951, to comfort his sister-in-
moved to Pyongyang later and established Soongsil University. Choryang Church has
law, who was alone due to his brother’s martyrdom.
had hard time along with the nation.
Wolpyeong Church, which has six martyrs in the 126 years of Christian history in Ulsan,
During the late period of Joseon and the Japanese colonial era, the church members
was designated as the Martyr Memorial Church of
fought for the independence of Korea, stood against Japan, and opposed visiting Shinto
the Ko Shin Presbyterian in Korea in 2014, and the
shrine. It was also the last bastion of refugees
Ulsan Martyrs Memorial Project was launched to start
during the Korean War. Choryang Church is where
a project to honor the martyrs of Wolpyeong Church.
Pastor Ju Ki-cheol, the important pastor in Korea
In recognition of their contribution to protecting the
Christian history, was. Pastor Joo, the third pastor in
hometown of these martyrs, some were buried in the
charge of Choryang Church, was martyred to keep
Daejeon National Cemetery.
his faith in opposition to Japanese shrine worship,
saying, “We cannot bow to your idol.” His upright
temperament is reflected in his church members
as well. If you go to Choryang Church, there is a
history exhibition hall. Not only the initial data
of Choryang Church, but also the pulpit used by
Pastor Joo Ki-chul is displayed.
Wolpyeong Church Monuments to the martyrs The pulpit used by Pastor Joo