Biography
Barbara Cho Chung-i
About Barbara Cho Chung-i
Barbara Cho Chung-i came from a Catholic family in Yanggeun, Gyeonggi Province, and married Sebastian Nam I-gwan. During the persecution of 1801, her father died and her husband was exiled. She later lived at Icheon and moved to Seoul, where she helped her relative Paul Chong Ha-sang’s efforts to obtain priests for Korea.
After Sebastian’s release from exile in 1832, the couple lived together again. Barbara helped care for Pacificus Yu’s household and later assisted Maubant.
Her home provided a place where Catholics gathered for prayer, confession and Mass.
Arrested during the persecution of 1839, Barbara refused demands to deny her faith or disclose her husband’s refuge. She consoled fellow prisoners and was executed outside Seoul’s Small West Gate on December 29, 1839.
Wondering how to weigh the stories and sources? Learn how to read a saint biography.