History of the Korean Catholic martyrs and early Christian community

The history of the Christian community in Korea began in 1782 when Ni-Tek-tso, also known as Peter, returned from China as a baptized Catholic and began spreading the faith among local intellectuals. By 1794, the community had grown to approximately 4,000 members.

During the 19th century, the movement faced three major persecutions that resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 Christians. Notable among them was Andrea Kim, the first Korean priest, who was executed in Seoul after refusing to renounce his faith. His father, Giuseppe, was also killed after declaring his Christianity in prison and being baptized by his son.

In 1984, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Andrea Kim, Giuseppe, and 101 other martyrs as saints to mark the second centenary of the founding of the Catholic Church in Korea.