Biography
Lucia Pak Hui-sun
About Lucia Pak Hui-sun
Lucia Pak Hui-sun was born in Seoul in 1801. After losing her mother, she entered the royal household as a palace attendant. The encyclopedia records that she taught Princess Bokon and later held a senior court-woman’s position.
The bishops’ conference biography describes her as literate in Korean and Chinese.
Andrew Kim Dae-geon’s report of 1845 says that Lucia accepted Catholic teaching as an adult. She used illness as a reason to obtain permission to leave the palace. Because her father opposed the religion, she could not return to his home.
Lucia lived with her older sister Maria in their nephew’s house outside Namdaemun. She encouraged the nephew’s family to become Catholics and adopted simpler clothing and food while devoting time to prayer.
During the persecution of 1839, the sisters moved to Agatha Chon Kyong-hyob’s house, where their nephew’s family joined them. Police arrested the residents in April. Lucia underwent severe punishment at the police and criminal courts.
The early report records her refusal to abandon Catholicism or betray other believers.
The encyclopedia says she circulated letters to encourage imprisoned Catholics. She was executed with eight other Catholics outside Seoul’s Small West Gate on May 24, 1839. Catholics later recovered her body for burial.
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