This year, 2024, is the year of Gapjin (甲辰年 a Chinese term that refers to the 41st year of the 60-year cycle in the traditional Chinese calendar). The Catholic Times in the View from the Ark Column gives us a brief summary of the beginning of the Catholic Church in Korea in 1784. The Columnist is a Catholic university professor.
The Korean Catholic Church celebrated its fifth Gapjin Year. The Korean Church was born 240 years ago, in the spring of the first Gapjin year of 1784. At the recommendation of Yi Byeok (John the Baptist), Lee Seung-hun (Peter) was baptized with the name Peter at a Beijing church in China and returned, sharing some of the books and sacred relics he received from missionaries with Yi Byeok. After studying the books of Western learning in detail, Yi Byeok met again with Lee Seung-hun, and others to discuss and preach the gospel. The year in which these great, beautiful, and holy events occurred was the year of Gapjin, 240 years ago.
Yi Byeok spoke of ‘gospel,’ ‘good news,’ and what living by accepting the gospel proclaimed by Jesus meant. It was life-threatening. When Yi Byeok was spreading the gospel, the nobles who heard this news sensed that this was 'overturning' the religious customs and social order of Joseon at the time, and tried to make Yi Byeok return to Confucianism.
The person who took on this task was a scholar who followed Confucianism faithfully and a person who served as a magistrate. He was the son of Lee Seung-hun's sister. He visited Yi Byeok and held a discussion to persuade him to return to Confucianism. Even though they debated for three days, he could not persuade Yi Byeok. On the contrary, he was persuaded by the new teachings of the Catholic Church. However, had no intention of publicly accepting this teaching. He said as he left: "This doctrine is good and true. However, it will bring misfortune to those who follow it." (History of the Korean Catholic Church by Charles Dallet)
The magistrate was right in his evaluation of Catholicism— for a century this was to be the situation. However, although Yi Byeok was himself a victim he did not die a martyr's death but his last years ended in mystery since his family was opposed to his newfound faith.
What is the gospel? Jesus’ first proclamation was delivered in the Gospel of Mark: "The time has come he said and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News." What is clear is that we are in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom is within us.
That we are in God and God is in us, this is the ‘gospel’. This means that God is our father and mother, and we are his children. That we exist as His daughters and sons in His kingdom. Imagine the ‘son who has found his father’ being filled with joy and not knowing what to do as he welcomes this good news into existence.
He ends his sharing with the question that arises as he meets Yi Byeok in Gapjin year. "Does our church live in God? As His children?" Let's remember this beginning in Korea was without the help of the clergy.
