The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of NamyangClaimed by the owner

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Namyang is a Catholic pilgrimage site in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. It marks an unnamed execution ground from the Great Persecution of 1866, when many believers were killed there. On October 7, 1991, the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, the site was consecrated to Mary and officially declared Korea's first Marian pilgrimage site.

From unnamed martyrs to Marian shrine

Historical records, including the Chimyeong Ilgi (a diary of martyrdoms) and witness accounts, name only four martyrs from Namyang: Kim Pilippo and his wife Park Maria, from Naepo in Chungcheong province, Jeong Pilippo from Deotokdol in Yongin, and Kim Hongseo Toma from Geolmaeri in Suwon. Unlike other martyrdom sites tied to named victims, Namyang's status as a site of unnamed martyrs left it neglected for many years. Efforts to develop it as a sacred site began in 1983, and the shrine was gradually built up before its 1991 consecration.

Site and features

The shrine is recognized by Hwaseong City as one of the "Hwaseong Palgyeong" (eight scenic sights of Hwaseong). Its features include a large granite rosary bead sculpture, a statue of Christ the King, a grotto of Mary, small statues along a walking path, and a statue of Saint Joseph. It is used both as a pilgrimage destination for Catholics from across the country and as a place of rest for local residents.