Catholic Persecution of 1801

One particular group, the Namin, or Southerners, viewed Catholic ideas about moral development as a field of study.

Namin scholars in Gwangju were open to other schools of thought and "studied Catholicism, hoping it could supplement loopholes in the Neo-Confucianist policies that were used to rule the country".

[2] While traffic with foreigners and their ideas was frowned upon, King Cheongjo of Joseon, who ruled from 1776 to 1800, needed the support of the Namin, and limited anti-Catholic activity to burning Catholic books and promoting Neo-Confucianism.

Beginning on 8 April 1801, the move was a cover for the political persecution of factions within the government which were opposing her, and were less hostile to Catholicism.

He was the brother of Paul Yun Ji-chung, who, with James Kwon Sang-yeon, was executed in 1791 for destroying mortuary tablets used in traditional Korean funeral rites and holding a Catholic service instead.