Myeongdong Cathedral or Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( кор 성당 ) is a Catholic church located in Seoul , South Korea . The cathedral is located on Myeongdong Street . The church is the cathedral of the Seoul Archdiocese and a national historical and architectural monument [1]
| Cathedral | |
| Myeongdong Cathedral (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary) | |
|---|---|
 Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul, South Korea | |
| A country |  The Republic of Korea |
| City | Seoul |
| Denomination | Catholicism |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Seoul |
| Architectural style | |
| Building | 1892 - 1898 |
| Status | Active temple |
| Site | |
Content
History
During the late Joseon Dynasty , when Christians in Korea were a persecuted minority, at the end of the 19th century in Korea there was some freedom for the activities of the Catholic Church. In 1882, Bishop Jean Blanc acquired land in Seoul and set about building an educational center, near which the construction of a Catholic church was planned. On August 5, 1892, the cornerstone of the church was consecrated. The construction was carried out under the guidance of missionaries from the Paris Society of Foreign Missions . Because of the First Sino-Japanese War, the construction of the temple slowed down and was completed on May 29, 1898, when the temple was consecrated in the name of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At that time, the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the tallest building in Seoul.
In 1900, the relics of Korean martyrs were buried in the cathedral, which were transferred from the seminary to Yongsang .
In the 70-80s of the XX century, Korean Catholic priests participated in the confrontation with the military government of South Korea. Demonstrators who participated in public protests often found refuge in Myeongdong Cathedral. In 1976, demonstrators and future Korean President Kim Dae-jung held a rally in the cathedral, during which they demanded the resignation of President Park Jung-hee . In 1987, about 600 students went on a hunger strike in the cathedral after the torture and death of student Chen Chol.
Architecture
The cathedral is one of the representatives of neo-Gothic architecture . The temple is built of red and gray bricks without external decorations. The height of the church is 23 meters, the height of the spire of the temple on which the clock is installed rises to 45 meters. November 22, 1977 Myeongdong Cathedral was included in the list of national monuments under number 258.