Former Yongsan Theological Seminary and the Jesus Heart Catholic Church of Wonhyo-ro

Yongsan Theological Seminary was established in 1892, and Wonhyo-ro Jesus Heart Cathedral in 1902. Both buildings were designed and supervised by the French priest, Father Coste.
The Yongsan Seminary was a brick building consisting of a semi-basement floor, a ground floor, and a second floor. It was the first seminary building in Korea. In the center, there was an entrance and an underground access point, with staircases leading to the ground floor entrance on both sides. The seminary has since moved to the Hyehwa-dong area. The current building was originally used as a branch of St. Mary's Hospital, and was acquired and used by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1956. While some additions have been made to the original structure, most of it retains its original appearance.
The Wonhyo-ro Jesus Heart Catholic Church is built utilizing a hillside, resulting in a three-story structure on the south side and a two-story structure on the north side. The main entrance is not centrally located but rather skewed to one side, creating an asymmetrical appearance. The interior of the building is a simple church design with only an altar and pews, but the pointed arch windows and the small pointed spire on the roof create an overall stylized Gothic aesthetic. In particular, upon entering the church, one immediately sees the central stained-glass window, which depicts the love of Jesus' Sacred Heart in a very beautiful and majestic manner, making it a must-see for those on a pilgrimage of church art. Furthermore, about ten years ago, Brother Marco, a stained-glass artist from France, added subtle stained-glass works to the left and right sides, as well as the rear of the second floor, creating a mystical spectacle where the entire church changes color depending on the movement of the sun and the time of day.
Above all, both buildings are registered as sacred sites by the Catholic Church. They are significant because the remains of Father Kim Dae-geon were kept there for about 50 years, and because they served as a seminary for training priests. As a result, many pilgrims visit these sites every year.

Details

Admission fee

Free

Restroom

Yes