From Scholar to Martyr: A Pilgrimage of Korean Catholicism

A 5-day Catholic pilgrimage through Seoul, the DMZ, and sacred mountain sites — tracing the path of Joseon's scholar-martyrs from faith to canonization.

From Scholar to Martyr is a 5-day Catholic pilgrimage that traces the living history of Korean Catholicism — from Joseon-era scholars who embraced a foreign faith to the martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Day 1 begins at Myeongdong Cathedral, Korea's first Gothic-style church and seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul, where the crypt holds the relics of Byeongin Persecution martyrs. Mass is available at 10:00 or 18:00.

Day 2 takes pilgrims to Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum before arriving at Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine — the cliff over the Hangang River where countless believers were beheaded in 1866, whose very name means "Beheading Hill."

Day 3 crosses into the borderlands to visit the Catholic Church of Repentance and Atonement in Paju, the closest sanctuary to the inter-Korean border. The church's interior was modeled after the grand abbey church of Tokwon Benedictine Monastery in Hamgyeong-do, featuring monumental mosaic artworks created jointly by artists from both North and South Korea as a prayer for peace and reconciliation. The journey continues to Imjingak and the DMZ (Unification Bridge, Dora Observatory, and the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel).

*Note: DMZ tour sites are subject to change depending on local operating conditions on the day of the tour.

Day 4 ascends Samseongsan Holy Ground — burial site of Saint Bishop Imbert, Saint Father Maubant, and Saint Father Chasta, all martyred in 1839 — for the Stations of the Cross and a 1.5-hour meditative hike up Gwanaksan Mountain.

All-inclusive: 3–4★ hotel (10 twin room base), all meals, transport, English-speaking guide, and entrance fees. Group size: Minimum 20 people