Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul

Myeongdong Cathedral was established on a site where Korean Catholics first gathered in 1784. The present Gothic brick structure began construction in 1892, with King Gojong laying the cornerstone. Built under the guidance of French missionaries, the cathedral was completed in 1898, making it the first brick Gothic-style church in Korea and the official seat of the Archbishop of Seoul.

The cathedral’s architecture features stained-glass windows, ribbed vault ceilings, and a 45-meter‑tall bell tower, contrasting beautifully with the red and grey brick facade. Its Latin cross‑plan design reflects Western ecclesiastical influence while blending seamlessly into the modern urban fabric of Myeongdong. Inside, the crypte houses relics and the remains of early Korean Catholic martyrs-a moving tribute to those persecuted during the Joseon era religious suppressions.

Beyond its religious function, Myeongdong Cathedral has played a potent role in Korea’s modern social history. During the 1970s and 1980s, it served as a sanctuary for pro-democracy activists and a stage for human rights protests against authoritarian rule-earning it the nickname "Mecca of democracy" in Seoul. In recent years, it also attracted attention as the site of the landmark 1995 migrant labor protest, which helped spark Korea’s labor rights movement.