Our Lady of Peace
Korean Catholic Shrine

Andrew Choe Je-geun was a member of the Gangneung Choe clan and ‘Je-geun’ was his name as listed in the family record. He was born in Sohakgol, Mokcheon, Chungcheongdo (present-day Napan-ri, Buk-myeon, Cheonan-si, Chungnam). His father was Lazarus Choe Jong-yeo (or Ga-seok which was his name as listed in the family record) who died a martyr in Gongju, Chungcheong-do in 1866. Peter Choe Cheon-yeo was his father’s elder brother. One of his descendants was Father Peter Choe Mun-sik who was ordained in 1910.

Andrew Choe Je-geun left Sohakgol and fled elsewhere after his father was arrested and died a martyr in the Byeongin Persecution in 1866. He barely made his living by doing manual labor, moving around from one non-believer’s house to another. Then he married Teresa Bang (N. 122) from Yongin who had no one to turn to as the former wife of a martyr.

The couple Andrew and Teresa were arrested by a police inspector from Juksan in April (by the lunar calendar) 1868. Andrew was asked to deliver up religious books and inform on other Catholics while he was punished by the police inspector. However, he bore with this and did not inform on anyone. They were sent to the Juksan government office. He was again punished there and felt his spirit weaken momentarily. However, he was able to strengthen his intention to die a martyr because of the encouragement of his wife Teresa Bang. When he was in prison, he sent his younger brothers a letter encouraging them as follows:

“I am still alive but I will die for the Lord. You should be faithful to your duties while you diligently observe Catholic teaching according to the command of the Lord, and please live in harmony. In the hereafter, I hope that we will see one another in heaven with joy.”

After three months of imprisonment Andrew Choe Je-geun died a martyr by hanging in July (by the lunar calendar) 1868 at the age of 20 along with his wife Teresa.