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162 Jeolla-do Jeolla-do 163

147 Yawol Church 148 Haeje Joongang Church

541 Yawol-ri, Yeomsan-myeon, Yeonggwang-gun 37-6 Bongdae-ro, Haeje-myeon, Muan-gun

Christian Martyrdom Memorial Hall
The Haeje Joongang Church started in 1932 as “Yanggan Bridge Prayer house” at Bae
“After the martyrdom of
Yoon-hwa’s house. The church changed its name to “Yangmae Church,” but is now using
the Yawol Church, the
the name, “Haeje Joongang Church”. The first missionaries to preach the gospel in Mokpo
word ‘church’ meant
and Muan were W. D. Reynolds and A. D. Drew. In particular, the missionary Reynolds is a
‘death’ to the residents.”
person who translated or compiled the most of the revised version of the Bible, and made it
possible for the revised version of the Bible, which is still loved by the Korean church.
He preached the gospel to Mokpo and Muan. In the summer, he climbed Jiri Mountain and
devoted himself to translating the Bible. During Korean War, Haeje Joongang Church faced
many trials and produced martyrs. At this time, evangelist Kim Dae-up, elder Lim In-jae,
Yawol Church was established in 1908 by missionary Eugene Bell. Refusing to Shinto shrine
deacons like Hwang In-kyung, Kim Pan-up, and Hong Soon-yong confronted the people
visit, Yawol Church was closed. The church member worshiped at their home until the
who forced them to become an apostate, and eventually walked the path of martyrdom.
liberation. After the liberation, Yawol Church was rebuilt soon, and the two young people,
Cho Yang-hyun and Heo Sook-il, had been guarding the church’s pulpit. Although it was a
small church, it was known as a church full of love like the early church in the Bible.
However, when the Korean War broke out, it was caught in a big whirlwind. The Ministry
of Home Affairs, which came in with the Korean People’s Army, confiscated Yawol Church “During the Korean War, five members of the Muan Haeje Joongang Church,
and used it as the office of the Korean People’s Committee. Even at this time, the church including him, were tried in the people’s court and shot to death.”
members were separated into their house and worshipped. When the chairman of the
People’s Committee and the left-wing youths of the village heard this news, they searched
for those who worshiped and gathered them in the church regardless of adult children. The
members of the People’s Committee set fire to the church where the members gathered
according to the order of the Ministry of Home Affair.
After that, Yawol Church has faced many difficulties, but in June 2006, with donations
from churches nationwide and support from the Yeonggwang County Office, “Christian
martyrdom Memorial Hall” with a floor space of 825㎡ was built. It shows that the blood of
martyrdom that the seniors of the faith shed during the Korean War was never in vain.

Haeje Joongang Church
Martyrdom monument
Yawol Church