Biography
Barbara Ko Sun-i
About Barbara Ko Sun-i
Barbara Ko Sun-i was born in Seoul and grew up practicing Catholicism with her mother. Her father, Ko Kwang-song, died during the persecution of 1801. She married Augustine Pak Chong-won, and they had three children.
Barbara helped her husband encourage Catholics who had stopped practicing their faith, teach those learning the religion and care for sick people.
The bishops’ conference dates her birth to 1794. The Korean encyclopedia instead gives 1798.
Her husband was arrested in October 1839, and Barbara was arrested the following day. During imprisonment, the couple encouraged one another despite severe punishment.
They refused demands to deny their faith. Barbara was executed outside Seoul’s Small West Gate on December 29, 1839, before her husband’s death.
Wondering how to weigh the stories and sources? Learn how to read a saint biography.