Korea Post Issues Commemorative Stamp for the 200th Anniversary of Father Kim Dae-geon's Birth

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Korea Post under the Ministry of Science and ICT will issue 630,000 commemorative stamps on the 20th to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Saint Kim Dae-geon Andrea, who was selected as a UNESCO World Commemorative Figure this year.

To commemorate the "200th Anniversary of the Korean Catholic Church," the stamp features the "Saint Kim Dae-geon Portrait" painted by the late artist Moon Hak-jin. The stamp's border depicts the "Korean Martyr Saint Statue" by artist Choi Young-cheol Paul, currently located within the Solmoe Holy Site in Dangjin. Below the crucified Christ figure, Father Kim Dae-geon is shown carrying the cross, walking on a path of thorns. The text in the sky area of the border is a part of the "Report on the Martyrs and Martyrdom in Joseon" written by Father Kim Dae-geon in March 1845.

Father Kim Dae-geon, the first Korean ordained as a Catholic priest, was born on August 21, 1821, in Solmoe (currently Songsari, Ugam-myeon, Dangjin-si, Chungnam). At age 15, he went to study in Macau. In 1844, he received the minor orders together with Choi Yang-eop at Sopalgaja, and on August 1, 1845, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Ferr?ol at the Kimgahang Church in Shanghai's outskirts. Afterwards, he came to Jeju Island and later worked near Hwangsanpo Nabawi in Gang-gyeong, Chungnam. In June 1846, he was arrested after attempting to help Father Maestre and his party enter the country, and was martyred by military beheading at Saenamteo on September 16 of the same year.

The commemorative stamps can be purchased by visiting a nearby post office or applying through the Internet Post Office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.