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Biography

John Yi Yun-il

Portrait of John Yi Yun-il

About John Yi Yun-il

John Yi Yun-il came from a Catholic family at Hongju in Chungcheong Province. He moved to Galgol in Sangju and later settled at Yeoumok near Mungyeong. He became a catechist and helped others learn about Catholicism.

John farmed for a living and had a wife and children.

The bishops’ conference gives his birth year as 1812.

The Korean encyclopedia instead gives 1816.

During the persecution of 1866, he was arrested with family members and Catholics from his village. He was questioned and punished at Mungyeong, transferred to Sangju and then taken to Daegu. He was executed at Gwandeokjeong outside Daegu on January 21, 1867.

In prison, he encouraged fellow Catholics to remain committed to their religion.

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