After a short walk down one of Seoul’s main gastronomic streets, I arrived at the majestic building of Myeongdong Cathedral. This structure is listed as a national historical monument of South Korea.
A Bit of History
Myeongdong Cathedral (Myeong-dong) stands at the site where the first Catholic community in the country was established in 1784. Construction of the church began in 1894 and lasted for four years. The cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In September 1900, the remains of the victims of the 1866 Catholic persecution were moved to the underground chambers of the cathedral, and later reburied in other locations. By 1926, the crypt of the cathedral contained the remains of 79 more martyrs. Today, the crypt holds the relics of nine individuals: a bishop, six priests, and two unnamed victims of persecution.
In many sources, Myeongdong Cathedral is called the first brick church in Korea, built in the neo-Gothic style. The height of the cross-shaped church building is 23 meters, and the bell tower rises over 40 meters. The architect of the cathedral was Father Eugene Coste. The structure became a model for the construction of many other Gothic churches in Korea.
Travelers can enter the cathedral and walk around the adjacent area. On the south side of the building, there is a small park with a statue of the Immaculate Conception, and on the other side of the church, there was a small market selling vegetables and greens on the day of my walk.
Myeongdong Cathedral: How to Get There
The cathedral is just a few minutes' walk from Myeongdong Station. The closest subway exits are exits nine and ten. It is not possible to plan a route using Google Maps in Seoul, as it doesn't work here for some reason. The best option is to use the Naver app.
Myeongdong Cathedral is an active church, and visitors can enter for free. I didn’t find the exact hours of operation, but guides say the first services begin at 7 a.m., and the last ones are held at 9 p.m.
In my upcoming articles, I will tell you about the historical gates of Seoul and a trip to Bukhansan National Park.
Have a nice trip!
