[One Day Walk] 14.4km Following the 'Path of the Martyrs'... Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Route Course 4

Editor's NoteWe introduce walking courses designated as national forest trails due to their high ecological, historical, or cultural value. National forest trails include Jirisan Dullegil, Baekdudaegan Trail, Daegwallyeong Forest Trail, Naepo Cultural Forest Trail, and Hallasan Dullegil.

The course introduced this time is Course 4 of the Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail on the Naepo Cultural Forest Trail. This course is known as the "Path of the Martyrs" among the Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trails. The total distance is 14.4 km. Starting from Chung-uisa Shrine, it ascends Hanti Pass, which holds the pain of Catholic martyrs intact. Hanti Pass was the route used to transport Catholics to Haemi Fortress, the execution site during the Catholic persecution. Catholics were bound and dragged along this path like dried yellow corvina fish tied together. Many believers arrested from various parts of Naepo were transported to Haemi by crossing Mount Gaya. Especially, those arrested near Sapgyo Stream had to pass through Deoksan to reach Haemi Fortress, the execution site. They had to cross Hanti Pass. For the martyrs, Hanti Pass was the final pilgrimage hill they climbed on their way to martyrdom.

[Photo by Naepo Munhwa Supgil Homepage]

Passing Sansu Reservoir and entering Haemi town, you arrive at Haemi Fortress, one of Korea's three major town fortresses. Many Catholic believers from the Naepo region chose the path of martyrdom through severe torture and persecution here. Haemi Fortress is a representative martyrdom site of the Catholic persecution and was later occupied by the Donghak Peasant Army before being suppressed. During the Byeongin Persecution, many Catholics were executed, and the holly tree where they were hanged still remains. It is one of the few town fortresses with its structure intact, and General Yi Sun-sin once served here.

[Photo by Naepo Munhwa Supgil Homepage]

Following the traces of the martyrs to Haemi Stream, you will find the Haemi Martyrs' Shrine (Yeosutgol Shrine). The Haemi Martyrs' Shrine is the site where about 1,000 Catholic believers from various counties in Chungcheong Province were buried alive during the Catholic persecutions between 1866's Byeongin Persecution and 1882. The site preserves the burial pit where believers were buried alive, the grave of an unnamed martyr buried beside Haemi Stream, an open-air church built on the excavation site of remains, and the original stone of Jari-gae-dol located outside the west gate martyrdom site.

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