SOUTH KOREA PILGRIMAGE: SACRED SITES OF THE MARTYR SAINTS

09:50 AM – Expected arrival at Incheon International Airport, you complete immigration procedures. Then, the car and tour guide pick up the group to depart for sightseeing:
• Mirinae Pilgrimage Site – the place with the tomb of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon & the martyrs. Mirinae in Korean means “Milky Way”. The reason it is called 'Mirinae' is because Korean Catholics came to this place secretly to avoid persecution at the end of the Joseon dynasty, and the faint lights shining from the houses where they settled were like the stars of the Milky Way.
• Church of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon & Saint Paul Chung Hasang.
• Museum of evidence of the executions of the martyrs.
After that, the group returns to Seoul, to visit:
• Namsan Hanok Village - a village nestled at the foot of Namsan Mountain. Beside the village there is also a lotus pond, charming scenery, and a babbling stream. During the Joseon period, this ancient village was home to nobles and officials. Today, the village is located on Pildong Street, Jung-gu District, in the center of the capital Seoul. Therefore, the village has become a weekend tourist area and a sightseeing spot for tourists.
• Namsan Tower (The group visits the outside, not including the elevator fee to go up the tower) - the symbol of Seoul city. Not only serving as a radio and television transmission tower for famous Korean broadcasters, Namsan Tower is also a famous tourist attraction drawing the most visitors in Seoul. Here, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Seoul from the observation decks, be impressed by the romantic space of love locks and love tiles, and toss wishing coins.
You have lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
After that, the car takes the group to the hotel for check-in and rest.
Overnight in Seoul.

You have breakfast at the hotel. Then, the car takes the group to visit:
• Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine - a shrine located right on the bank of the Han River. The shrine was built to honor Korean Catholic believers who were persecuted during the Byeongin persecution of 1866. The reason for the persecution of believers (9,000 believers were martyred) was that at the end of 1866, 9 French missionaries were persecuted, which caused the war between France & Korea. After the war, the Joseon king persecuted and killed French Catholics & Korean believers in many forms, the most common being beheading. And this Jeoldusan place is also known by another name, “Beheading Mountain”. At Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine, Pope Saint John Paul II visited on May 3, 1984, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the martyrs, and a year later in 1985 Mother Teresa of Calcutta also visited the shrine. On November 7, 1997, Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine became a national historic site.
• Korean ginseng center, fresh Korean ginseng - the cradle of Korean ginseng, also known as the Korean National Ginseng Center, with a history of more than 100 years. The Korean Ginseng Center is a place that provides first-class ginseng products and is a government-protected facility. Therefore, visitors do not need to worry about quality when coming here.
• The group shops at a cosmetics store
The group has dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at a 3* hotel in Seoul.

You have breakfast at the hotel. Then depart to visit:
• Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine - built in 1984, commemorating 200 years since Catholicism was introduced to Korea, and after 3 years of construction the shrine was consecrated. Saenamteo is an area used for training soldiers during the Joseon dynasty. During the Sinyu persecution of 1801, the Gihae persecution of 1839, the Byeongo persecution of 1846 and the Byeongin persecution of 1866, many Christians were executed here. In particular, among those martyred were 11 priests including the first Korean priest - Andrew Kim Taegon. Here, the remains of 9 martyr saints are still preserved.
• Namyang Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary (The Shrine Of Our Lady Of The Rosary Of Namyang (Rosary Hill) - Namyang Basilica was built on the land where thousands of Catholics were martyred from 1864 to 1884 under King Daewongun. This is a place believed to have witnessed many apparitions of Our Lady, especially in 1984. On October 7, 1991, the shrine was dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, and became the first Marian shrine in the history of the Korean Church. The basilica is specially dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of all martyrs. In particular, anyone can come here to pray the Rosary alone, with family or friends, on a one-kilometer path elaborately designed with 20 decades made of large stones along the way.
• Duty-free shop and red pine essential oil - extracted from red pine trees, effective for treating diabetes and blood fat.
The group has dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at a 3* hotel in Seoul.

After breakfast at the hotel, the group rests freely until check-out time. The coach then takes the group on a tour of South Korea:
• Myeongdong Cathedral – where Popes have visited and celebrated Mass. Founded in 1784, it is the oldest and most famous cathedral in South Korea. Myeongdong Cathedral was consecrated on 29 May 1898. It is the first Gothic-style Western-architecture church in South Korea, with a roof height of 23 m and a bell tower height of 45 m. Here stands a stone monument engraved with the names of the parish priests and the believers who shed their blood for the Korean Church during the terrible Gihae-Byungin persecution. Beneath the main altar is a crypt holding the remains of all 5 saints and 4 martyrs of Korea. Saint John Paul II canonised them, together with other martyrs, during his visit to South Korea in 1984. In addition, Myeongdong Cathedral was a base of the democracy movement in South Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. It is therefore no exaggeration to call this place a historical witness.
• Gyeongbokgung Palace – the largest main palace among the Five Grand Palaces, representing the ruling power of the Joseon dynasty, a source of national pride and a symbol of the glorious past of the royal dynasties. 
• The group shops at a farm produce store.
Guests have lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
At the appointed time, the coach takes the group to the airport for the flight back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Estimated flight: VJ861   ICN - SGN     21:15 - 00:45+1
Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, the tour ends. Farewell, and we look forward to welcoming you on your next journey with Gateway.
(The order of the itinerary may change according to actual conditions, but all sightseeing stops in the programme will be ensured).
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PILGRIMAGE TO UNDERSTAND AND LOVE CHRIST