A young Korean laywoman martyred in Seoul in 1839 at about twenty years old, during the Korean persecution of that year.

Saint Lucia Kim was a Korean laywoman martyred on July 20, 1839, at the Small West Gate of Seoul, South Korea, at about twenty years old. Her death occurred during the persecution of 1839, one of several major nineteenth-century campaigns against Korea’s Catholic community, which had grown rapidly despite operating almost entirely outside state sanction.

Quick Facts

• Born: c. 1819, Korea
• Died: July 20, 1839, Small West Gate, Seoul, South Korea
• Beatified: 1925
• Canonized: 1984
• Feast Day: September 20 (with the Korean Martyrs)

Who Was Saint Lucia Kim?

Lucia Kim was a young laywoman in the Korean Catholic community when she was arrested and executed at the Small West Gate of Seoul in 1839, still in her twenties. Her youth at death places her among the many young Korean converts who paid the ultimate price for embracing a faith the government of the time regarded as subversive.

Historical Setting

The persecution of 1839, known as the Gihae persecution, arose from the Joseon government’s determination to root out the growing underground Catholic community, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Korean Catholics, both clergy and laity, in a campaign notable for its systematic use of interrogation and execution at designated sites in and around Seoul.

Why the Church Remembers Saint Lucia Kim

The Church remembers Lucia Kim as one of the young Korean women whose steadfast faith under interrogation and threat of execution helped establish the enduring reputation of the Korean Catholic Church for depth of conviction. Her memory is honored together with the many other martyrs of the 1839 persecution.

Canonization and Feast Day

Lucia Kim was beatified in 1925 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984 as part of the group of the Korean Martyrs. Their shared feast is celebrated on September 20.

What Catholics Can Learn Today

Lucia’s youthful martyrdom is a striking witness to young Catholics today, showing that deep conviction is not the exclusive province of age or long formation. Her example invites young people to take their faith seriously enough to hold it even under real pressure.

A Prayer to Saint Lucia Kim

Saint Lucia Kim, young martyr of Korea, inspire young Catholics today to embrace their faith with courage and conviction, whatever pressures they may face. Amen.

Sources

• Vatican.va
• EWTN