Biography
John the Baptist Yi Kwang-nyol
About John the Baptist Yi Kwang-nyol
John the Baptist Yi Kwang-nyol was the younger brother of Augustine Yi Kwang-hon. He belonged to the Gwangju Yi clan and became a Catholic with his brother’s family. He assisted Paul Chong Ha-sang, Augustine Yu Chin-gil and Charles Cho Sin-chol in seeking priests for the Korean church.
John traveled to Beijing twice, informing church authorities about Catholics in Korea and requesting missionaries. He also helped bring Jacques Chastan into Korea. He received baptism in Beijing and chose to remain unmarried after returning home.
John was arrested with other Catholics in April 1839. He endured questioning and severe punishment without renouncing his faith. His brother Augustine was executed first, while John remained imprisoned.
John was executed outside Seoul’s Small West Gate on July 20, 1839, with seven other Catholics.
The encyclopedia gives July 19 instead; the exact day differs between accounts.
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