• Start
•  
• Catholic Churches
•  
• Solmoe Holy Ground
•  
• Chusa Gim Jeong-hee
•  
• Ganwolam
•  
• Finish

I looked for a restaurant called Yetgol Babdoduk 1-beonji at the entrance to Deoksan Spa.

I left the church to feed my stomach. I was spiritually full so it was time for me to get my stomach full. This place is famous for crabs. I ordered a meal set that serves Yangnyeom-gejang(spicy marinated crab) and Galchi-jorim(braised cutlassfish), and the table was full like this. Looking at this photo makes me hungry again.

Bulgogi and boiling steamed egg served with the meal set was delicious and Galchi-jorim has enough Korean cutlassfish in it. The seasoning was so good that I could not stop eating.

Yangnyeom-gejang is called babdoduk(rice thief) because it is so delicious that you wouldn't even notice until you finish the whole bowl of rice when you eat it with spicy and sweet sauce.

Address: 363-1 Sinpyeong-ri, Deoksan-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do / 충청남도 예산군 덕산면 신평리 363-1

This is the entrance to Solmoe Holy Ground. Solmoe Holy Ground restored from birthplace where the Father Andrea and the first Korean apostle, Gim Dae-geon, was born. This is called Solmoe because there are so many pine trees that form a grave. Moe is a pure Korean word for mountain. Approximately 80 pine trees around the shrine have been keeping their spots over 200 years. Father Gim Dae-geon, his father St Gim Jae-jun Ignatius, his aunt St Gim Theresa, his grandfather Gim Jin-hu and grandfather's brother Gim Jong-han all used to lived here as far as I've heard. It means that his 4 generations died martyrs in 32 years. Since it is base of religion where saints have lived for generations, it's called Korean Bethlehem and often visited by Catholics in Korea.

St Gim Dae-geon Andrea's memorial church was rebuilt as the ship called Raphael (named by Bishop Ferreol that indicates that God protects it), which he and a secret envoy took on in order to come to Korea, was reinterpreted in a modern way. It embodies the fact that the sail was torn down, the whelm was broken in the storm in the western sea and they lost the concomitance and direction but with the help of Saint Mary they were able to make it to Joseon, and while the red materials used on the outside were to indicate that their martyrdom proved God, the big road in the middle was dedicated to the shrine in 2006 to express Father Gim Dae-geon's spirits towards the world.

Right before Father Gim Dae-geon martyr, he was pleased and said 'now eternal life is about to begin'. He was 25 years old.

On the arena surrounded by Twelve Apostles statues, they open concerts, theaters or mass. It is big enough to occupy 1,200 people.

I saw the Gim Dae-geon's birthplace. People were looking at the chronological table inside the house to figure out the history of religion in groups.

The picture of Pope who recently visited here was hung on the wall in the main floor of Father Gim Dae-geon's birthplace welcoming us.

This Gim Dae-geon's birthplace was historical evidence studied by Father Kramp from Hapdeok Catholic Church. This main building here was restored in 2003 through excavation of pieces of roof tiles and historical researches by members of cultural properties. It has recently been used as the room for adoration of the Eucharist. It got more famous when Pope Francis gave a visit here when he came to Korea.

At the exact spot that Pope Francis saw and prayed, I am trying to feel his spirit who came to us like Santa in August.

They prayed where Pope Francis was standing like we did.

The picture of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of people in the world with preposterous characters such as his warm heart and honesty visiting Gim Dae-geon's birthplace, meditating and praying in the yard of this Korean style house was very impressive. What do you think he had in mind and what was he praying for that day?

There's no need to make a fire but the firewood is piled up, and that was impressive.

There were blessed martyr and saint stones next to St Gim Dae-geon, Father Andrea statueㅡblessed martyr stone was built in 1946 to celebrate 100

^th

year since Father Gim Dae-geon's martyrdomㅡand since its establishment and sanctuary, the formal sacred image made of plaster was destroyed and current sacred image was made by professor Jeon Roe-jin in 1977.

Father Gim Dae-geon's statue was standing squarely surrounded by green pine trees that do not change just like his faith. The face was so soft and I read the chronological table that he died at the age of 25.

Even when he was in prison, he translated two world maps from English to Korean and wrote a general book about geography, and even Japanese high officials were moved by his knowledge and noble character that they started a campaign to save his life. I admire his courage that he gave up on his life for his religion when he was 25.

I almost felt the pain that Jesus had while he was nailed to a cross.

Inside the shrine, the cruciform road is formed in two ways for us to see Jesus's last pain and revival. There were two roads, one is the road with mosaic works with the theme of Jesus's hand and the other one with bronze Vollplastik installed, and I chose the bronze statues to walk by. The texture was rough and unsophisticated that made me feel the pain which would be as terrible as it was holy.

Even when Jesus was in pain like having an enormous rock pressing his body, his face looks comfortable and aloof.

It's a real-person size that made me feel like I was talking to a pilgrim.

When I was about to leave the Cross Street, the cross standing just as high as the real one on Golgotha hills caught my eyes.

As I entered, I saw the cross instantly.

Address : 124 Songsan-ri, Ugang-myeon, Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도 당진시 우강면 송산리 124)