Saint John Baptist Chŏn Chang-un

Saint John Baptist Chŏn Chang-un (1811–March 9, 1866) was a Korean martyr and a saint of the Catholic Church. Born in 1811 in Seoul, he was baptized by his devout mother. Having lost his father shortly after birth, he had to help support his family from a young age by working in agriculture and sewing leather bags. In 1839, during the anti-Catholic persecutions in Korea, he was arrested. Under torture, he renounced his faith and was released. He deeply regretted his actions, but it was not until 1845, upon the return of Father Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn to Korea, that he was able to go to confession. He later married and had three children. In 1866, persecutions of Christians resumed in Korea. John Baptist Chŏn Chang-un was arrested on March 1, 1866. He was tortured again, but this time he did not renounce his faith. Consequently, he was sentenced to death on March 8. He was beheaded the following day at the execution site outside the Small West Gate in Seoul. Another Catholic, Peter Ch’oe Hyŏng, was executed alongside him. His memorial day is September 20, as part of the group of 103 Korean Martyrs. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 6, 1968, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984, as one of the 103 Korean Martyrs.