Cheonjinam, Catholic shrine in Gwangju, South Korea

Cheonjinam is a Catholic shrine on the site of a former Buddhist hermitage in Toechon-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, at Cheonjinam-ro 1203. As of 2007 only the hermitage site remained, and the area is being developed as a sacred ground with a church; the graves of five people credited with founding Korean Catholicism are here.

Cheonjinam was a small hermitage of the now-vanished Jueosa temple. In the winter of 1779, a study meeting was held there, and Yi Byeok arrived at night through the snow to discuss the classics by candlelight. By 1797 the hermitage was a ruin, and in 1962 a magazine article about Jueosa led Korean Catholics to commemorate the site.

This place serves as a pilgrimage site for Korean Catholics, functioning today as a center for religious gatherings and community events. Visitors can observe how people use the spaces for spiritual practices and meetings.

The grounds are easily accessible with pathways through the wooded landscape and buildings open for viewing. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain is hilly and the natural surroundings invite exploration.

The site houses a museum that documents the history of Catholicism in Korea and how the faith developed in this country. Ongoing construction of a large cathedral shows that the place continues to expand and evolve.