The Gateway of Korean Catholicism, Baengnyeongdo... Incheon City Launches Pilgrimage Tourism Products

Incheon City and the Incheon Tourism Organization launched a pilgrimage tour package for Baengnyeong and Daecheong Islands based on a memorandum of understanding signed with the Catholic Diocese of Incheon in December last year.

The 1-night, 2-day Baengnyeong Island package includes a pilgrimage trail visiting Baengnyeong Cathedral, Dumujin Chapel, and Sagot Chapel, along with sightseeing opportunities such as a Dumujin cruise, Simcheonggak, and Kongdol Coast. The 2-night, 3-day package adds Daecheong Island, where visitors can visit Seonjindong Chapel and Daecheong Cathedral, and enjoy a trekking course called Seopungbari for tourism.

The islands of Incheon were important sites for early Korean missionary work. Missionaries cared for the island residents while spreading the gospel of Christ, resulting in a 70% evangelization rate on Baengnyeong Island.

Father Kim Dae-geon, who went abroad for priestly education in his childhood, pioneered sea routes to bring missionaries into Joseon after returning. Baengnyeong Island became a key entry point for missionaries. During times of persecution, Baengnyeong played a major role in allowing missionaries to enter and can be considered a historic place where the gospel of Christ and Eastern and Western cultural ideas met.

On Baengnyeong Island, there are Baengnyeong Cathedral, built in 1959, as well as Yonggipo Chapel, Sinhwadong Chapel, Sogaeul-ri Chapel, Sagot Chapel, and Gaeul-ri Chapel. A chapel (Gongso) is a Catholic community without a resident priest, served by a traveling priest. More than half of the 200-year history of the Korean Catholic Church was during the chapel era, making it the foundation of Catholicism in Korea and holding significant meaning for Catholics.

Baengnyeongdo Autumn Gongso
[Photo provided by Incheon City]

On Daecheong Island, there are Daecheong Cathedral, Gojudong Chapel, Jeonjindong Chapel, and Moraeol Chapel. The main altar of Daecheong Cathedral enshrines the relics of Korea’s first Catholic priest, Saint Kim Dae-geon Andrea.

In the past, young Father Kim Dae-geon established a secret maritime route between China and Joseon by boat in 1846, traveling from Mapo in Seoul to Yeonpyeong Island, then Baengnyeong, Daecheong, and Socheong Islands, forming a connection with Baengnyeong and Daecheong. About a 10-minute walk from Socheong Island’s Tapdong Pier leads to a statue of Father Kim behind Yedong Chapel.

An official from the Incheon Tourism Organization said, "We hope Incheon’s islands will become a holy site for pilgrimage tours," adding, "We plan to expand this to other religions and non-profit organizations in the future."

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