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FEATURE | EASTERN HORIZON 21

The Catholic Diocese of Suwon announced a new cathedral that will represent Korean Catholicism, is set to be constructed at the Cheonjinam
hermitage site aimed to be completed by 2079 in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Catholicism in Korea.

In 1801, King Sunjo, the 23rd king of the Joseon and be heartbroken? 11 Local officials, carefully admonish
Dynasty, implemented a policy where Catholicism was your people. Those who are followers of evil learning will
conceptualized as an evil learning, or “sahak” (邪學) reform in an instant, and those who are not will fearfully
and Catholic religious practices were prohibited. The rectify their lives. In this way, the abundant merit built up
edict began the Shinyu persecution of 1801, where by our former king will not be diminished. If, now that evil
the Government pushed ahead with the nationwide learning has been strictly forbidden, there is still a gang
persecution of Catholicism and many Catholics were of people who do not mend their ways, then it is right to
ruthlessly executed. According to the Annals of Sunjo, treat them as rebels (yŏgnyul/逆律)… .
“Sunjosilok” states,
- 《Annals of the Sunjo》Volume 2, 1st year of King Sunjo
監司、守令, 仔細曉諭, 使爲邪學者, 飜然改革, 不爲邪學 (1801), Decided on January10th, Article 1
者, 惕然懲戒, 無負我先王位育之豐功盛烈。 而如是嚴禁
之後, 猶有不悛之類, 當以逆律從事。 At the conclusion of the Shinyu Persecution, over
300 Catholics and those who protected the Catholic
The former king always said that if orthodox learning community were charged as the enemy of the state
was illuminated then evil learning (sahak/邪學) would and beheaded. Dasan Jeong Yakyong and many
disappear on its own. But, as we have heard, this so-called Joseon intellects who accepted the Catholic faith were
evil learning, which is the same as it always has been, has interrogated and tortured and sent into exile further
spread from the capital to the provinces of Kyŏnggi and away into the very remote areas of the province.
Honam, and its adherents grow daily in number. As for a
person being a person, it is a matter of morality (illyun/ The Cheonjinam Hermitage and the Jueosa Temple
人倫). As for a country being a country, it is a matter of sangha, who have compassionately embraced and
civilization (kyohwa/敎化). This so-called evil learning is protected the Catholic scholars during the nationwide
without father and king, destroys morality, interferes with persecution, were taken in as prisoners for treason and
the spread of civilization (kyohwa), and causes people to presumably executed alongside the captured Catholics.
degenerate into barbarians, birds, and beasts (ijŏk kŭmsu/ Cheonjinam hermitage and Jueosa temple were set on
夷狄禽獸). And so the foolish people are infected with fire and cast aside for destruction.
these errors (chŏmyŏm kwaeo/漸染詿誤) and led astray.
If a child fell into a well, how could we not take pity on it The Shinyu Persecution was not only a persecution