✦ Catholic Tourist

Vatican-recognized pilgrimage · South Korea

Seoul,
a Church born from witness.

In 2018 this 44.1-kilometer network became Asia’s first international pilgrimage route recognized by the Holy See. Its 24 places tell an extraordinary Catholic story: Korean laypeople sought the faith, communities formed, martyrs endured persecution, and a living Church emerged.

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24 unique places3 official courses44.1 km total network
Official designation

The recognition applies to the Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route as a network. Catholic Tourist follows the official three-course structure and does not invent a fourth route or imply that every stop is a church building.

Official route introduction ↗

Three paths through one history

Word. Life. Unity.

Several central stops are historical markers in modern streets and plazas; others are active churches, museums, martyr shrines and reliquaries. Each card identifies the kind of place a pilgrim will actually encounter.

Course 1 · 8.7 km · about 3 hr 40 min

The Word Route

The lay-led beginnings of Catholicism in Korea, the first communities, clandestine ministry and the places where the Word took root.

  1. Stop 1Myeongdong CathedralCathedral · 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
  2. Stop 2Site of Kim Beom-u’s HouseArchaeological Site · 66 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu
  3. Stop 3Founding Site of the Catholic Church in KoreaArchaeological Site · 105 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu
  4. Stop 4Left Police Bureau SiteArchaeological Site · 28 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu
  5. Stop 5Jongno Catholic Church and Police Bureau Martyrs HallParish Church · 8 Dongsulla-gil, Jongno-gu
  6. Stop 6Gwanghuimun Martyrs SiteShrine · 348 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu
  7. Stop 7Catholic University Songsin Campus Pilgrimage SiteShrine · 296-12 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu
  8. Stop 8Seokjeong Full-Moon WellArchaeological Site · 110 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu
  9. Stop 9Gahoe-dong Catholic ChurchParish Church · 57 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu
Official course guide ↗
Course 2 · 5.9 km · about 2 hr 30 min

The Life Route

Tribunals, prisons, martyrdom sites and living churches reveal why the official route names this a path toward eternal life.

  1. Stop 1Gahoe-dong Catholic ChurchParish Church · 57 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu
  2. Stop 2Gwanghwamun Beatification Site of 124 MartyrsArchaeological Site · North Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu
  3. Stop 3Former Ministry of Justice SiteArchaeological Site · 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu
  4. Stop 4Uigeumbu Tribunal SiteArchaeological Site · 47 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu
  5. Stop 5Jeonokseo Prison SiteArchaeological Site · 41 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu
  6. Stop 6Right Police Bureau SiteArchaeological Site · 6 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu
  7. Stop 7Gyeonggi Provincial Office SiteArchaeological Site · 134 Tongil-ro, Jongno-gu
  8. Stop 8Seosomun Martyrs’ Shrine and History MuseumShrine · 5 Chilpae-ro, Jung-gu
  9. Stop 9Yakhyeon Catholic ChurchParish Church · 447-1 Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu
Official course guide ↗
Course 3 · 29.5 km · about 8 hr

The Unity Route

Seoul’s major martyr shrines, reliquaries and former burial places form the network’s longest and most demanding course.

  1. Stop 1Yakhyeon Catholic ChurchParish Church · 447-1 Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu
  2. Stop 2Danggogae Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 139-26 Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu
  3. Stop 3Saenamteo Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 80-8 Ichon-ro, Yongsan-gu
  4. Stop 4Jeoldusan Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 6 Tojeong-ro, Mapo-gu
  5. Stop 5Nogosan Martyrs’ SiteShrine · 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu
  6. Stop 6Yongsan Sacred Heart SeminaryShrine · 49 Wonhyo-ro 19-gil, Yongsan-gu
  7. Stop 7Waegogae Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 46 Hangang-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu
  8. Stop 8Samseongsan Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 454-16 Hoam-ro, Gwanak-gu
Official course guide ↗

The complete collection

Every mapped Seoul pilgrimage place

01
Myeongdong CathedralCathedral · 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
→02
Site of Kim Beom-u’s HouseArchaeological Site · 66 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu
→03
Founding Site of the Catholic Church in KoreaArchaeological Site · 105 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu
→04
Left Police Bureau SiteArchaeological Site · 28 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu
→05
Jongno Catholic Church and Police Bureau Martyrs HallParish Church · 8 Dongsulla-gil, Jongno-gu
→06
Gwanghuimun Martyrs SiteShrine · 348 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu
→07
Catholic University Songsin Campus Pilgrimage SiteShrine · 296-12 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu
→08
Seokjeong Full-Moon WellArchaeological Site · 110 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu
→09
Gahoe-dong Catholic ChurchParish Church · 57 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu
→10
Gwanghwamun Beatification Site of 124 MartyrsArchaeological Site · North Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu
→11
Former Ministry of Justice SiteArchaeological Site · 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu
→12
Uigeumbu Tribunal SiteArchaeological Site · 47 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu
→13
Jeonokseo Prison SiteArchaeological Site · 41 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu
→14
Right Police Bureau SiteArchaeological Site · 6 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu
→15
Gyeonggi Provincial Office SiteArchaeological Site · 134 Tongil-ro, Jongno-gu
→16
Seosomun Martyrs’ Shrine and History MuseumShrine · 5 Chilpae-ro, Jung-gu
→17
Yakhyeon Catholic ChurchParish Church · 447-1 Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu
→18
Danggogae Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 139-26 Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu
→19
Saenamteo Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 80-8 Ichon-ro, Yongsan-gu
→20
Jeoldusan Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 6 Tojeong-ro, Mapo-gu
→21
Nogosan Martyrs’ SiteShrine · 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu
→22
Yongsan Sacred Heart SeminaryShrine · 49 Wonhyo-ro 19-gil, Yongsan-gu
→23
Waegogae Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 46 Hangang-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu
→24
Samseongsan Martyrs’ ShrineShrine · 454-16 Hoam-ro, Gwanak-gu
→

Plan with the official route

Walk as a pilgrim, not just a visitor.

Use the Seoul route’s current directions, pilgrimage passport and closure notices. The Songsin campus has restricted access during rebuilding from 2026 through 2029, and museums or memorial halls may close on Mondays.

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