Andrew Kim Taegon

Andrew Kim Taegon (김대건 안드레아)

“ You are right in what you have written; but the king forbids this religion, it is your duty to renounce it.. ”

– Himself

Background and Character Information

Full Name: Andrew Kim Taegon

Other Names: Kim

Born: 21 August 1821 at Solmou, Dangjin, Korea

Died: 16 September 1846 (aged 25) at Saenamteo, Hanseong, Joseon (now Seoul, South Korea)

Cause of Death: Execution

Species: Terran Human

Nationality: Korean

Age: 25

Gender: Male

Venerated: Catholic Church, Anglican Church

Occupation: Yangban, later Priest

Language Spoken: Korean, Spanish, French, Latin, Tagalog

Alignment: Good

Paraphernalia: Rosary, bow and arrow

Powers and Abilities: n/a

Partner(s): n/a

Relative(s): unnamed parents

Affiliate(s): others

Likes: ???

Dislikes: ???

Inspiration: himself

Andrew Kim Taegon (Hangul: 김대건 안드레아, Hanja: 金大建, Romanized: Gim Daegeon Andeurea) was the first native Korean-born Catholic yangban, priest and is the patron saint of Korean clergy, being canonized and made a saint with over 102 others on 6 May 1984.

Etymology

Coming soon

Physical Appearance

Taegon is a native Korean with yellowish skin, black hair, and brown eyes.

Abilities

Coming soon

Personality

In the heavily Confucian Korea, Kim's parents converted to Catholicism; as a result, his father was executed for practicing Christianity. Kim attended a seminary in the former Portuguese province of Macau after receiving baptism at the age of 15. He also lived at Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines, during his seminary years; the hamlet has a statue of him there. In Shanghai in 1844, French bishop Jean-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste Ferréol presided over his ordination as a priest. He went back to Korea to preach and evangelize after receiving his priesthood.

Background

Among the other martyrs in 1839 was Columba Kim, an unmarried woman of 26. She was put in prison, pierced with hot tools and seared with burning coals. She and her sister Agnes were disrobed and kept for two days in a cell with condemned criminals, but were not molested. After Columba complained about the indignity, no more women were subjected to it. The two were beheaded. Peter Ryou, a boy of 13, had his flesh so badly torn that he could pull off pieces and throw them at the judges. He was killed by strangulation. Protase Chong, a 41-year-old nobleman, apostatized under torture and was freed. Later he came back, confessed his faith and was tortured to death.


In those days, the Joseon Dynasty ruled the country and Christianity was suppressed thereby causing many Christians to be persecuted and executed. Catholics had to covertly practice their faith. Kim was one of several thousand Christians who were executed during this time.


In 1846, at the age of 25, he was tortured and beheaded near Seoul on the Han River. Before Bishop Ferréol died from exhaustion on February 3, 1853, his final wish was to be buried beside Kim, the young seminarian whom he ordained.

Quotes

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Trivia