History of Catholicism in Korea

The Catholic church was founded in Korea in 1784.

Yi Sung-hun returned from Beijing after being baptized there, and held a meeting at the home of Kim Pom-u, now the site of Myongdong Cathedral in downtown Seoul (pictured).

Observed Cho Kwang, "the Catholic Church was established in this manner by Koreans for themselves without aid from foreign missionaries," (The Meaning of Catholicism in Korean History by Cho Kwang, Translated by Ch'oe Mi-hwa, in The Founding of Catholic Tradition in Korea, Ed. Chai-Shin Yu, Asian Humanities Press 2004)

Western missionaries who arrived in China suggested that Confucianism and Catholicism were not mutually opposed to each other, as the latter was "able to supplement what was insufficient in Catholicism." But such a view was rejected by Confucian intellectuals and even by the Catholic Church itself.

This, coupled with Catholics who made it clear that their aim was to reject the traditional social order and re-creating the Catholic faith as their own, made it easier for authorities to suppress the faith.

Cho also noted that Catholicism gained acceptance in Korea as it was a "stimulant for the formation of a modern society", given that Chosun dynasty was "in the process of collapse" during the latter half of the 18th century.

This led to the emergence of various movements aimed at modernization, and Catholicism stood out as a progressive force due to its emphasis on equality, and respect for women and children.