Paul Chong Hasang

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Paul Chong Hasang (정하상 바오로) (1795–1839) was one of the 103 Korean Martyrs.

He was the son of the martyr Augustine Chong Yakjong, one of the first converts of Korea, who wrote the first catechism for the Korean Church entitled "Joo Gyo Yo Ji."

When Yakjong was martyred with Hasang's older brother, Yakjong's wife and the other children were spared and went into a rural place. Hasang was seven years old.

When he grew up, Hasang chose to become a servant of a government interpreter; this enabled him to travel to Beijing multiple times, where he entreated the bishop of Beijing to send some priests to Korea, and wrote to Pope Gregory XVI via the bishop of Beijing, requesting the establishment of the diocese of Korea, independent from that of Beijing. This happened in 1825.

Some years later, bishop Imbert and two priests were sent. The bishop found Hasang to be talented, zealous, and virtuous; he taught him Latin and theology, and was about to ordain him when a persecution broke out. Hasang was captured and gave the judge a writing defending Catholicism. The judge, after reading it, said, "You are right in what you have written; but the king forbids this religion, it is your duty to renounce it." Hasang replied, "I have told you that I am a Christian, and will be one until my death."

After this Hasang went through a series of torture in which his countenance remained tranquil. He was bound to a cross on a cart and cheerfully met his death, at the age of 45.^[1]