This program was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Korean Catholic Church and its history. What impressed me most was the pilgrimage tour of major Catholic sites, including Myeongdong Cathedral, guided by Jeong-ok Lee, the Chief Consultant of TCS Lab, whose extensive knowledge and insightful explanations brought the history and significance of each site to life. Visiting these sacred places greatly enhanced my understanding of the Korean Catholic Church. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning about the Korean Catholic Church. I am confident that you will be very satisfied with the well-structured lectures, the rich educational content, and the smooth, professional organization of the tour.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- 대면 가이드
Excludes
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Walk left along the stairway, take to the right, and meet you at the statue of Jesus. See you there!
Return
- Walk left along the stairway, take to the right, and meet you at the statue of Jesus. See you there!
Itinerary
The History Museum of Seoul Archidiocese Built in 1890, this building is celebrated as one of the oldest surviving Western-style brick structures in Korea. It initially served as the rectory (parish office and residence) for Myeongdong Cathedral before being transformed into a museum. Inside, visitors can explore rare historical artifacts, documents, and records that trace the resilience, martyrdom, and growth of the Korean Catholic community through times of persecution and modernization. It stands not only as a religious repository but also as a living monument to Korea's architectural and cultural history.
Start your tour at the Main Gate, stepping into the sacred heart of the cathedral to face the central Altar and its magnificent Altar Painting. Next, admire the statues of the 14 Disciples of Jesus and the vibrant, storytelling hues of the Stained Glass, before pausing at the historic Baptism Water Container. The journey then traces the roots of Korean Catholicism through its pioneer figures: from Thomas Kim Beomwu, who hosted the earliest faith community, and The John Baptist, to the statue of St. Kim Daegun, Korea's first priest. Moving forward, reflect on the faith of the martyrs at The Painting of 7 Beatification and learn about Pedro Lee Seunghun, the first baptized Korean. Marvel at the grand Pipe Organ before walking the reflective path of the 14 Stations of the Cross. Finally, conclude your pilgrimage by honoring the modern legacies of peace left by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.
The Crypt of Myeongdong Cathedral It is a sacred underground chapel located beneath the main altar. Established during the cathedral's construction in 1898, it serves as a deeply revered pilgrimage site and the spiritual foundation of Korean Catholicism. The crypt enshrines the holy relics of historical martyrs and saints who sacrificed their lives during the severe anti-Catholic persecutions of the Joseon Dynasty. Among them are the remains of French missionaries, including Bishop Laurent Imbert, and notable Korean devotees who laid the groundwork for the local faith.
Mary's Garden It is a beautifully landscaped, serene outdoor sanctuary located right behind Myeongdong Cathedral. Centered around a graceful statue of the Virgin Mary, this peaceful garden offers a quiet retreat for prayer, meditation, and reflection, contrasting deeply with the bustling shopping streets of the surrounding Myeongdong district. The Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes: The garden features the statue of the Immaculate Conception, standing solemnly as a symbol of comfort, maternal protection, and peace for all visitors.
Coste Hall A Gateway of Missionaries and the Reconstruction of St. Kim Daegun's Bust Coste Hall holds a profound historical significance as the symbolic starting point where early Catholic missionaries departed to spread their faith across Korea, enduring severe hardships and martyrdom. Today, it is also highly regarded for housing a deeply moving piece of sacred art: the sculpted bust of St. Andrew Kim Daegun, Korea’s first Catholic priest.
Mary's Grotto ; The Lourdes Grotto of Bishop Paul Ro is a sacred outdoor sanctuary located within the peaceful grounds of Myeongdong Cathedral. Modeled after the famous apparition site in Lourdes, France, this beautiful stone grotto was dedicated by Bishop Paul Ro (Ro Ki-nam)—the very first native Korean Catholic bishop—as a place of profound devotion, gratitude, and communal prayer.
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Reviews
It was a truly impressive experience. I was amazed by the fact that they did not let go of their faith and kept their beliefs even amidst countless sacrifices, and the tour showed me that the cathedral was not built by chance. I highly recommend visiting at least once, even if you are not a Catholic.
I first visited there. I really enjoyed there and learned a lot. I want to visit there with my family or friends again.
It was such a great experience. I joined your tour one week ago. Although it rained that day, we were able to fully enjoy the tour because of your clear and detailed explanations. After the tour, I became interested in learning more about Korean history. Thank you so much. I really respect your knowledge and passion.
It was such an informative, meaningful, and enjoyable experience. I learned so much about Catholicism, and I especially appreciated how the guide explained it in connection with the historical situation of the late Joseon Dynasty. It was much more than simply visiting Myeongdong Cathedral — it was a wonderful opportunity to understand both its history and religious significance. I had a truly happy and memorable time, and I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in Korean history and Catholicism. Highly recommend!
Today's tour of Myeongdong Cathedral was calm, quiet, solemn, clean, and truly enjoyable. Thank you very much.
The journey with Jenni was exceptional! Her guidance felt effortless, intuitive, and thoughtfully tailored to every moment.
This is such a unique and meaningful tour for anyone interested in Korean history and Catholic heritage. The story of how Catholicism began in Korea is fascinating, and Myeongdong Cathedral is the perfect place to learn about it. The guide was knowledgeable, kind, and easy to communicate with. I especially appreciated the depth of historical explanation and the personal approach of the tour. Highly recommended for travelers looking for something beyond the usual sightseeing spots in Seoul.
She was a good guide . Kind. Nice. Really appreciated
She is a great guide. And her knowlege and attitude was incredible. And I was deeply moved by Korean Catholic history
Korean Catholicism is truly unique in the world. Koreans discovered and built their own faith through books, without any missionary's help. Over 100 years of persecution then created a faith deeply rooted in sacrifice and endurance. Finally, the Church stood at the center of Korea's democracy movement, fighting for justice alongside the people. I’m proud of myself for booking this tour. I didn’t know much about the Catholic Church, but thanks to Jenny’s professional explanations, I also gained a deeper understanding of Korea's history. I highly recommend this tour.
"Thank you, Jenny, for sharing your knowledge and passion throughout the tour. Your clear and engaging explanations helped me understand not only the history of Myeongdong Cathedral but also the remarkable story of how Catholicism took root in Korea despite many hardships and sacrifices. I learned so much and gained a deeper appreciation for Korean Catholic history. Your enthusiasm and expertise made the experience both educational and enjoyable. It was a truly memorable experience that I will not forget."
Jenny provided an exceptional Catholic tour that highlighted the history, struggles, and victories of Catholics in Korea. We enjoyed seeing the church, museums and more. Jenny went out of her way to look after us and makes sure we saw as much as possible. Her personal touches made it the most enjoyable tour! Thank you.
This was more than just a church tour. I learned so much about the Catholic Church’s history in Korea. The guide was both charming and informative.
Jenny is a knowledgeable guide who takes time to share the history and information on Catholism in Korea. It was a fruitful experience for my husband and I, both of us immersing in the rich Korean culture.
It was easy to book and make payment through the Marriott website. Tour guide was very punctual for the 10am tour and we were able to contact via whatsapp to get to the meeting point. Website stated that it will be a 1 hour tour so we were slightly shocked when we were told that it will be 2 hours but it was worthwhile. Tour guide was very friendly, patient and gave clear detailed description of the Korean Catholic history and history of the cathedral. The tour guide was very kind to offer to take pictures for us and assisted me when I wanted to make a candle offering (2000won/candle). The walking pace was good and she brought us around the compound (from the museum, inside the cathedral, crypts, Mother Mary grotto, the saint statue and the Lady of Lourdes statue). Time was also given for us to meditate/pray. There was a small shop near to the staircase leading to the toilet that sells various catholic items like books, rosaries, figures, keychains and more. There were also other small shops in the basement but we did not explore. Overall we were very thankful for the great educational tour. Moreover, the booklet provided by the museum included a good summary and will be useful for church visiting around Seoul in the future.
Jenny began our time together with an overview of Korean Catholic history, followed by a tour of the Cathedral. She was well informed, and went beyond the basics in responding to my interests. She also provided information on how to continue visiting Catholic sites throughout the city.
This was a wonderful experience! Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained the history of the building as well as the history of the Catholic Church in Korea! Highly recommend!
Jenny gave me a run down of the 2-hour tour in front of the Cathedral, where we went to the underground shopping area to have a coffee. Over the coffee, she gave a private lecture on religion in Korea and how they transitioned from Buddhism to Confucianism. Christianity was eventually discovered and established in Korea. After the educational lecture, we went to the Cathedral. Unfortunately, there was a service that was about to start so we could not stay for long, which is a shame because the inside was beautiful. I did not know about that at the time of my booking so it was unavoidable. Jenny then took me to the crypt, showed me the Mary statues, and showed me where the first Christian gatherings were done. As a religious studies student, it was an amazing experience. Jenny clearly knows a lot and made the tour very interesting. Would highly recommend if you want a brief history of religion in Korea and want to know more about the Cathedral itself. Try and make sure you go on a day where there won’t be service so you get the chance to really see the Cathedral. Can’t wait to come back and have another tour from Jenny!
Beyond the goal that the content was faithful and highly anticipated, we not only learned a lot about the Korean Catholic Church and the Temple, but also the desire to know more. We will also actively participate in the upcoming Holy Land Pilgrimage program. I am very grateful for being inspired by Mr. Yongok's deep knowledge. In the future, various programs will be developed 🙏
The guided tour of the Myeongdong Cathedral was a very special experience. Jenny, our guide, explained the history of Catholicism in Korea from a very interesting perspective, as she is not only an official guide but also Catholic. As a foreigner, I was curious to learn how this religion was introduced in Korea and how Korean Catholics live today. Thanks to her explanations, I was able to better understand both the history and the current reality of the Church in Korea. A highly recommended visit for those who want to learn about an important facet of Korean culture and history.
It was a valuable time to know about the Catholic history of Korea and the hidden spaces of the Miyong Cathedral.
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