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Lives of the 124 Korean Martyrs
Kim Jong-ryun (Luke)
| Date of birth | 1819 | Sex | man | Place of birth | Gongju Chungcheong-do | Position/Status | N.C.F. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 49 | Date or martyrdom | Sep. 14, 1868 | Place of martyrdom | Ulsan Gyeongsang-do | Mode of martyrdom | beheading |
Luke Kim Jong-ryun was born to a noble family. He learned the catechism in Gongju, Chungcheong-do from an early age. He led a faithful Christian life.
Luke Kim tried to live in harmony with everybody by stressing the virtue of Christian charity. When the Byeongin Persecution broke out in 1866, he took refuge with his parents in Meongemok, Sangju, Gyeongsang-do (now, Myeongjeon-ri, Dongro-myeon, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongbuk). From there he went to the Jukryeong Christian Village in Ulsan (now, Icheon-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulsan-si, Gyeongnam) by way of Ganwol, Eonyang (now, Deungeok-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulsan-si, Gyeongnam).
Luke Kim met Peter Yi, catechist, and James Heo In-baek who were escaping from the Byeongin Persecution of 1866. They led a faithful Christian life by encouraging one another. Until then Jukryeong was a relatively safe place. In 1868, the police found out about the Jukryeong Christian Village, and arrested Luke Kim and other believers.
On the way to Gyeongju, Luke Kim decided to die a martyr for God on listening to his fellow Catholics’ advice. When he was interrogated and tortured at the Gyeongju military base, he professed bravely his faith in God and confessed he was a Catholic.
Luke Kim was transferred to Ulsan with his companions where he was interrogated, tortured, and sentenced to death. Afterwards, he was taken to ‘Jangdae` (now, Byeongyeong-dong, Ulsan-si, Gyeongnam) where the Military Command Headquarters was located. He was beheaded and died a martyr with James Heo and Peter Yi on September 14, 1868 (July 28, by the Lunar calendar). Luke Kim was 49 years old.
It is said that Luke Kim, piously made the sign of the cross on the execution ground and called on Jesus and Mary with a loud voice. Pak Jo-i, wife of James Heo, who followed her husband to the execution ground, took his body and buried it secretly.
Luke Kim tried to live in harmony with everybody by stressing the virtue of Christian charity. When the Byeongin Persecution broke out in 1866, he took refuge with his parents in Meongemok, Sangju, Gyeongsang-do (now, Myeongjeon-ri, Dongro-myeon, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongbuk). From there he went to the Jukryeong Christian Village in Ulsan (now, Icheon-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulsan-si, Gyeongnam) by way of Ganwol, Eonyang (now, Deungeok-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulsan-si, Gyeongnam).
Luke Kim met Peter Yi, catechist, and James Heo In-baek who were escaping from the Byeongin Persecution of 1866. They led a faithful Christian life by encouraging one another. Until then Jukryeong was a relatively safe place. In 1868, the police found out about the Jukryeong Christian Village, and arrested Luke Kim and other believers.
On the way to Gyeongju, Luke Kim decided to die a martyr for God on listening to his fellow Catholics’ advice. When he was interrogated and tortured at the Gyeongju military base, he professed bravely his faith in God and confessed he was a Catholic.
Luke Kim was transferred to Ulsan with his companions where he was interrogated, tortured, and sentenced to death. Afterwards, he was taken to ‘Jangdae` (now, Byeongyeong-dong, Ulsan-si, Gyeongnam) where the Military Command Headquarters was located. He was beheaded and died a martyr with James Heo and Peter Yi on September 14, 1868 (July 28, by the Lunar calendar). Luke Kim was 49 years old.
It is said that Luke Kim, piously made the sign of the cross on the execution ground and called on Jesus and Mary with a loud voice. Pak Jo-i, wife of James Heo, who followed her husband to the execution ground, took his body and buried it secretly.