Choe Yang-eop

After his ordination, Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop returned clandestinely to Korea at the end of 1849 or the beginning of 1850. For eleven and a half years, he dedicated himself entirely to the evangelization and spiritual support of the Christian communities hidden in the mountainous regions of the south of the country.

His pastoral ministry was characterized by exceptional physical endurance. To visit the dispersed and isolated faithful, he traveled nearly 2,800 kilometers on foot each year under extremely harsh conditions. This tireless dedication earned him the nickname "Martyr of Sweat" (or "Martyr of Sweat and Tears"), because unlike his contemporaries executed for their faith, he consumed his life through apostolic labor.

In addition to the administration of the sacraments, he translated catechisms into the vernacular, composed liturgical hymns, and maintained a precious correspondence. His 19 letters written in Latin constitute today an invaluable historical testimony on the life of the early Church in Korea and the sufferings of the first Christians.

Unlike the vast majority of the first Korean saints who shed their blood during the great persecutions, Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop was not executed. He is thus considered a "confessor of the faith," making him the first non-martyr candidate in the history of the Korean Church proposed for beatification.

The cause for beatification was officially introduced at the diocesan level at the end of the 20th century, supported by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea. On March 5, 2004, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (now the Dicastery) granted the nihil obstat, officially opening the Roman phase of the process.

On April 26, 2016, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, thereby granting him the title of "Venerable."

As a confessor of the faith (non-martyr), the beatification of the Venerable Thomas Choe Yang-eop requires the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession. A first attempt to recognize a miracle failed in 2021, as the Vatican deemed the evidence insufficient. However, the Church in Korea continued its efforts by presenting a new case of unexplained healing. On March 26, 2026, the Medical Commission of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints issued a favorable opinion, concluding that a healing attributed to his intercession could not be explained by the current state of medical science. This major step revives the hope for an upcoming beatification, which must still be validated by the theologians, cardinals, and bishops of the Dicastery, before being submitted for the final approval of the Pope.

The spirituality of Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop rests on a total abandonment to Providence and a deep devotion to the Cross and the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. His missionary zeal was manifested by his constant desire to go out to meet the poorest and most isolated, braving fatigue, hunger, and the constant danger of arrest.

Exhausted by his incessant travels and stricken with typhoid, he died on June 15, 1861, at the age of 40. He is buried on the hill behind the Saint Joseph Seminary in Baeron (located in Jecheon), the very first seminary in Korea. His tomb is today a highly frequented place of pilgrimage.

His legacy remains alive in South Korea. In 2021, on the occasion of the bicentenary of his birth, the Holy See recognized the Haemi Martyrs Sanctuary as an international pilgrimage site, thus honoring the memory of the clandestine Christians he had served with such fervor. Furthermore, in April 2026, the Diocese of Wonju unveiled a portrait scientifically reconstructed from his mortal remains, allowing the faithful to put a face to the "Martyr of Sweat."