Roman Catholic Shrine of Solmoe, Catholic shrine and historic site in Solmoe Village, Dangjin, South Korea
The Roman Catholic Shrine of Solmoe is a historic site in Solmoe Village, Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. It preserves the birthplace of Father Kim Dae-geon (1821–1846), the first Korean Catholic priest, and the home of four generations of his martyred family: his great-grandfather Kim Jin-hu, his great-uncle Kim Jong-han, his father Kim Je-jun, and Kim Dae-geon himself. The site was designated Chungcheongnam-do Monument No. 146 on July 28, 1998, and promoted to National Historic Site No. 529 on September 26, 2014.
Kim Dae-geon was born in 1821 at Solmoe, where four generations of his family—great-grandfather Kim Jin-hu, great-uncle Kim Jong-han, father Kim Je-jun and himself—were martyred. The site was designated Chungcheongnam-do Monument No. 146 on 28 July 1998 and upgraded to National Historic Site No. 529 on 26 September 2014.
Solmoe takes its name from the Korean word for pine, sol, and the village's pine grove. The site is a pilgrimage destination tied to the family of Korea's first priest: his great-grandfather Kim Jin-hu, great-uncle Kim Jong-han and father Kim Je-jun were all martyred, and memorial halls at the village bear their names. Masses and commemorations for the family are held here.
The grounds are easy to walk through with marked paths connecting the different buildings and open spaces for movement. Visitors should dress appropriately and allow time to see each area, especially if attending services or taking a tour.
Four generations of one family are commemorated here: Kim Dae-geon's great-grandfather Kim Jin-hu, his great-uncle Kim Jong-han, his father Kim Je-jun and the priest himself all died as martyrs. The site was first listed as Chungcheongnam-do Monument No. 146 on 28 July 1998 and was raised to National Historic Site No. 529 on 26 September 2014.
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