In the late 18th century, Catholicism began taking root in Korea,[1] having been introduced by scholars who visited China and brought back Western books translated into Chinese.

In 1836 Korea saw its first consecrated missionaries (members of the Paris Foreign Missions Society) arrive,[2] only to find out that the people there were already practicing Korean Catholics.

Born of Yangban, Kim's parents were converts and his father, uncles, and grandfathers were subsequently martyred for practising Christianity, a prohibited activity in heavily Confucian Korea.

[3]Before Ferréol, the first bishop of Korea, died from exhaustion on 3 February 1853, he wanted to be buried beside Kim, stating, "You will never know how sad I was to lose this young native priest.

The feast day of Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and companions is celebrated on 20 September.