Translator's Note

Part 1: A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Korea

A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Korea
The Lives of Father Kim Dae-geon and Father Choi Yang-eop
List of letters from Father Choi Yang-eop

Part 2: A Heartfelt Wish

First Letter: I Wish to Be Alone with God · 49
Second Letter: Please Fulfill My Earnest Wish · 52
Third Letter: Strengthened by Hope in God · 56
Fourth Letter: From the Valley of Tears Again · 59
Fifth Letter: I Want to Remain on Gogunsan Island · 63
Sixth Letter, Second Year Expedition · 69

Part 3 Our Poor Missionary Field

Seventh Letter: Five Provinces in Six Months · 81
Letter Eighth: The Flowers of Countless Martyrs · 119
Tenth Letter: Our Poor Missionary · 163
Eleventh Letter: Regarding the Martyrdom of My Parents · 168
Twelfth Letter: John Choi Hae-seong, Martyr · 176

Part 4: Final Farewell

Thirteenth Letter: Sharing Joy in the Lord · 191
Letter 14: Joseon's Social Structure that Oppresses the People · 208
Fifteenth Letter: We Are Best Friends · 217
Sixteenth Letter: The Apostle Who Spread Catholicism on Jeju Island · 232
Seventeenth Letter: May Our Martyrs Be Ranked as Saints · 235
Eighteenth Letter: Still Chained · 248
Nineteenth Letter: My Final Farewell · 253
Americas
Appendix: Two Newly Discovered Letters

A letter filled with the priest's actions and earnest wishes.

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Father Choi Yang-eop, we have republished a book that was first published in 1995 and has been reprinted 30 times to convey the spiritual legacy and path of faith left behind by Father Choi Yang-eop.
Also attached are two letters sent to Bishop Berol, the newly discovered Bishop of Manchuria.


Faith and hope relying on God's providence

The first letter was sent from Macau in 1842 to his teacher, Father Legrez, and the Dean of the Paris Foreign Missions Society's seminary.
The six letters he wrote from Sopalgaja, Shenyang, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, seeking a way to enter Joseon.
These letters clearly reveal the many hardships and sorrows they endured in coming to Joseon, their faith in God's providence and their hopelessness even in desperate situations, and the beautiful relationship between priests and disciples.
In addition, in the sixth letter, we can see the circumstances surrounding his ordination on April 15, 1849, and the state of mind of Father Choi Yang-eop at that time.


Pastoral work filled with passion and love

The seventh letter, written on October 1, 1850, from the Doanggol Public Office (Hongsan region, South Chungcheong Province), contains the circumstances surrounding his entry into Joseon and his pastoral activities in Joseon during his first year of entry.
Father Choi Yang-eop wrote 13 letters while performing pastoral work in his homeland.
Unfortunately, however, the ninth letter sent in September 1854 has been lost.
The last letter was sent from Jukrim Public Office in Gyeongsang Province on September 3, 1860.
The sweaty steps of the martyrs who walked over 7,000 li to visit over 120 public offices scattered across five provinces every year are fully recorded.
He offers suggestions for missionary methods suited to the circumstances of Joseon, and confesses, in particular, the various hardships and difficulties he experienced while working alone as a priest in the field, his longing for his colleague, Father Kim Dae-geon, and his own increasingly exhausted state.
But the sealed letters were always filled with faith and hope in God's providence, and love and gratitude for the missionary priests and teachers.
The last letter was written by Father Choi Yang-eop a year before he collapsed at Mungyeong Pass.
He reports on the interruption of his religious activities due to the Gyeong-In Persecution and asks for prayers with a faithful and humble attitude.


A record of the faithful's religious life and martyrs, told with compassionate eyes.

It describes in detail the suffering suffered by believers due to ongoing persecutions, big and small, and the faith of believers that shines brightly even in the midst of it all.
When meeting believers in such situations, Father Choi Yang-eop's compassion and consideration are evident everywhere.
You can also find sincere views toward the Joseon government and Joseon church leaders, as well as appeals for help through the Paris Foreign Missions Society.
He is also full of consideration and love for the three seminarians he sent to Penang to train his juniors.
In addition to providing spiritual care for believers, we also want to find ways to purify water while considering their health.


Two letters to Bishop Barol, the Vicar of Manchuria, included in the appendix.

These letters were sent by Father Choi Yang-eop to Bishop Berol, the Vicar of Manchuria, and were obtained by Father Choi Seung-ryong from the Paris Foreign Missions Society.
The translation was done by Father Kim Sang-gyun, who is in charge of the archives at the Korean Church History Research Institute.
It contains reports and considerations on the overall situation and pastoral care in Joseon, as well as various contents necessary for pastoral care.

A proper understanding of and interest in the early history of the Korean church

This book also provides a good explanation of the history of the Korean church at that time and church terminology, so you can better understand and empathize with the contents of the letter.
In addition, we can also see the positive influence that funeral culture and Hangul had on missionary work at the time.
The Korean Church is commemorating 2021 as the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. Kim Dae-geon.
Father Choi Yang-eop, a colleague and the second priest of this land, also celebrated the 200th anniversary of his birth on March 1, 2021.
This letter, filled with Father Choi Yang-eop's faith, passion for proclaiming the Gospel, and compassion for the faithful, embroidered with tears and sweat, allows us to get to know Korea's second priest more intimately.