CHONG YAK-JONG (1774)

One of the most eminen leaders in the early propagation of Catholicism in Korea.

He was the elder brother of chong Yak-yong, the famous scholar of the so-called Practical Learning in the late Yi dynasty.

Born to a family noted for its scholarly background, he was converted to Catholicism by the Chinese priest Chou Wen-mu (James Chou), the first ordained priest ever to enter Korea.

Chong made a great contribution toward the spread of the gospel in Korea and served as the first president of Myongdo-hoe or Society of Bright Truth, an institute established for the study and spread of Catholic doctrines.

He also wrote the Principal Articles of the Religion, the first guide-book to Catholicism written in Korean; it contributed toward the spread of the Korean alphabet, which had been generally neglected in favour of Chinese characters.

His second book ramained unfinished because of government persecution. Arrested in 1801, he did not bow to the authorities. He claimed that Catholicism was not wicked but true and that its prohibition was wrong, declaring that he was not afraid to die for the sake of truth. He was executed at the age of 42 and became one of the greatest Korean Christian martyrs. His son Chong Ha-sang wrote Letter to Minister.