New and Better Mapo-gu
In 1866, the French forces arrived in Korea and anchored their warships at Yanghwajin Port, in response to the Joseon government's persecution of the Catholic church
Regent Heungseon Daewongun, claiming that Yanghwajin was contaminated by the westerners and should be purified by the bleeding of Catholic believers, executed Catholic missionaries and believers on Jamdubong Peak. Since then, the peak has been called "Jeoldusan," meaning "the mountain of decapitation."
The martyrdom site around Jeoldusan was designated as National Historic Site No. 399 in November 1997.
The cemetery is where about 500 foreigners including missionaries from 15 countries who ministered in Korea from the late Joseon era to the Japanese occupation era and their families were laid to rest.
The graves of the foreigners who have a significant presence in the modern history of Korea are found in this cemetery, which has an exotic mood that can be felt in foreign cemeteries.