Authorities in the South Korean capital Seoul have installed a new plaque as part of the renovation process of Gwanghwamun Square where Pope Francis beatified 124 Catholic martyrs during his visit in 2014.

The new plaque explains the meaning behind the beatification of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 companions who were martyred for their faith in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Bishop Benedictus Hee-Song Son, auxiliary bishop of Seoul Archdiocese, and chairman of the Archdiocesan Martyr Exaltation Committee, has been monitoring the renovation process in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan authority.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said he hopes the site will educate visitors about the history of the nation.

“The area linking Gwanghawmun Square, Gyeongbok Palace and Cheong Wa Dae is a key centre of our long history, brilliant culture and democratization,” Yonhap News Agency quoted him as saying.

“I anticipate that along with Cheong Wa Dae that has returned to citizens, the square will become a tourist attraction to be frequented by people from all over the world,” he added.

Cheong Wa Dae is commonly known as the Blue House, the former presidential residence, while Gwanghwamun Square stands in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace where numerous Christians were persecuted and killed during the rule of the staunchly-Buddhist Joseon dynasty that lasted from 1392-1910.

Paul Yun Ji-Chung (1759-1791) and 123 other martyrs were killed for refusing to recant their faith between 1791 and 1888.

During the beatification ceremony in Seoul on Aug. 16, 2014, Pope Francis hailed the Korean martyrs for their great sacrifice.

“In God’s mysterious providence, the Roman Catholic faith was not brought to the shores of Korea by missionaries. Rather, it entered through the hearts and minds of the Korean people themselves,” Pope Francis had remarked.

The 124 martyrs are one step away from sainthood in the Catholic Church.

The renovated Gwanghwamun Square has been expanded and partially refurbished into a park.

It hosts a large bronze statue of King Sejong at the centre.

King Sejong (1397-1450) was the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty and was hailed as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history.

The renovated square is more than 40,000 square meters in size, more than double the size of the previous one at 18,840 square meters.

The authorities have planted 5,000 new trees, including 300 tall ones, effectively increasing the square’s green space from around 2,800 square meters to more than 9,300 square meters, providing more cover from the sun in summer.

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