A Traveler's Guide to the Appenzeller Memorial Mission Church in Gunsan ⛪
A Traveler's Guide to the Appenzeller Memorial Mission Church in Gunsan ⛪
๐ฏ The Story of Missionary Appenzeller and the Memorial Church: The Noble Sacrifice of Joseon's First Missionary
In 1885, at the age of 27, Reverend H. G. Appenzeller was sent to Joseon as its first missionary. He took on numerous roles as a pastor, educator, publisher, and translator, profoundly influencing the evangelization and modernization of Joseon. Arriving at Jemulpo, Incheon, on Easter, April 5, 1885, he tirelessly traversed the Korean peninsula for 17 years, founding the Korean Mission and establishing Baejae Hakdang (Pai Chai Academy), until his tragic death in a maritime collision near Eocheongdo Island off the coast of Gunsan in 1902.
On June 11, 1902, he died at the age of 44 in a ship accident in the waters off Eocheongdo Island, Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do. It is known that Missionary Appenzeller, who was in a first-class cabin, sacrificed his life to save his assistant, Jo Han-gyu, and a Korean female student who were in third-class.
Christian History Exhibition Hall Information
Location: 12 Naechoan-gil, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do
Contact: 063-467-2478
Name: Korean Christian History Exhibition Hall, affiliated with the Appenzeller Mission Memorial Hall
Feature: An exhibition hall commemorating both Appenzeller and Mr. Jo Seong-gyu, who assisted him.
☕ Recommended Nearby Cafes & Restaurants
Gunsan's Signature Cafes
Iseongdang (์ด์ฑ๋น) ⭐4.6 (Taste 4.6, Price 4.0)
A Gunsan landmark that captures both great value and taste! Its signature items, the red bean bread (danpatppang) and vegetable bread (yachaeppang), are so popular that people line up to buy them.
A must-visit course for any trip to Gunsan.
Gamsung Story Cafe (๊ฐ์ฑ์คํ ๋ฆฌ์นดํ)
A cafe where diverse atmospheres coexist in one space.
A comfortable place to rest after visiting the church.
Cafe E-eocha (์นดํ ์ด์ด์ฐจ) (A "Face Reading" Hotspot)
Famous for its unique "ear reading" attraction.
Experience a cafe with a one-of-a-kind concept.
Gunsan Restaurants
Jirinseong (์ง๋ฆฐ์ฑ): A famous Chinese restaurant.
Near Sinheung-dong Japanese-style House: Explore restaurants amidst buildings from the Japanese colonial period.
Gunsan's Original Downtown: Modern architecture and traditional Korean food.
๐บ️ Gunsan 2-Day, 1-Night Faith Trip Itinerary
๐ Day 1: Exploring Missionary History
09:00 Arrive in Gunsan, have breakfast
10:00 Visit the Appenzeller Memorial Mission Church & Christian History Exhibition Hall
11:30 View the exhibit for Mr. Jo Seong-gyu
12:30 Lunch (Red bean bread from Iseongdang)
14:00 Gunsan Modern History Museum
15:30 Explore Sinheung-dong Japanese-style House
16:30 Chowon Photo Studio (Make memories)
17:30 Relax at Gamsung Story Cafe
19:00 Dinner and check into accommodation
๐ Day 2: Culture and Nature
09:00 Stroll through Gyeongam-dong Railroad Village
10:30 Mariseosa (Independent Bookstore)
12:00 Lunch (at Jirinseong)
14:00 Seonyudo Island (by ferry)
16:00 Enjoy the natural scenery of the Gogunsan Archipelago
17:30 Depart from Gunsan
๐ Day Trip Pilgrimage Itinerary
Course A: Focus on Missionary Appenzeller Appenzeller Memorial Mission Church → Christian History Exhibition Hall → Gunsan Modern History Museum → Gunsan Jeil Church → Eocheongdo Pier (Gazing towards the martyrdom site)
Course B: Exploring Modern Mission History Appenzeller Memorial Hall → Former Joseon Bank (Gunsan Branch) → Gunsan Customs House → Sinheung-dong Japanese-style House → Chowon Photo Studio → Gyeongam-dong Railroad Village
Course C: Education and Mission Heritage Appenzeller Memorial Hall → Gunsan Modern Education Hall → Former Gunsan Customs House → Gunsan March 1st Movement Centennial Memorial Hall → Iseongdang Bakery
๐ Transportation Information
Public Transport
KTX: Iksan Station → Bus to Gunsan (40 min).
Express Bus: Gunsan Terminal → Local bus or taxi.
Local Bus: Get off at the Naechoan-gil bus stop.
By Car
Seohaean Expressway → Gunsan IC → 12 Naechoan-gil
Parking: Use public parking lots around the church.
Access to Eocheongdo Island
Take a passenger ferry from Gunsan Port (approx. 1 hour 30 min).
Gaze towards the site of Appenzeller's martyrdom.
๐ช Special Programs & Events
Appenzeller Memorial Events
Martyrdom Memorial Service (Annually on June 11)
Missionary Memorial Concert (Held regularly)
Christian History Seminar (Quarterly)
Pilgrimage Program (Group reservations available)
Gunsan Cultural Festivals
Gunsan Time Travel Festival (May)
Gunsan Modern Culture Festival (October)
Gogunsan Archipelago Festival (Summer)
๐ก Pilgrimage Trip Tips
Memorial Hall Information
Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Every Monday
Admission: Free (Donation box available)
Guided Tours: Available with prior reservation.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (April-May): Mild weather for a pilgrimage amidst flowers.
Autumn (September-October): Cool weather for a history tour with autumn foliage.
Weekdays: For a quiet and reverent atmosphere.
Special Experience Programs
Following the Footsteps of Missionary Appenzeller
Baejae Hakdang Educational Experience
Korean Bible Translation Experience
Modern Missionary Costume Experience
๐จ Accommodation Recommendations
Lodging Near the Church
Gunsan Modern History Guesthouses
Hanok Stay at Sinheung-dong Japanese-style House
Business hotels in downtown Gunsan
Special Lodging Experiences
Seonyudo Island Guesthouses (With nature)
Gogunsan Archipelago Pensions (Ocean view)
Gyeongam-dong Railroad Village Guesthouses
๐ Useful Contacts
Appenzeller Memorial Mission Church: 063-467-2478
Gunsan Tourist Information Center: 063-454-3337
Gunsan City Hall, Culture & Tourism Dept.: 063-454-3336
Gunsan Taxi: 063-445-2525
Embark on a meaningful journey to find the roots of Korean Christian history, honoring the noble sacrifice and 17 years of dedication by Missionary Appenzeller, who was martyred in the seas of Joseon at the age of 44!
๐ท️ 30 Travel Tags
๐ Place Tags #AppenzellerMemorialMissionChurch #GunsanChristianHistoryMuseum #GunsanTravel #JeonbukTravel #EocheongdoIsland #GunsanModernHistoryMuseum #SinheungdongJapaneseHouse #ChowonPhotoStudio #GyeongamdongRailroadVillage #SeonyudoIsland #GogunsanArchipelago #Mariseosa
๐ฏ Theme Tags #MissionaryAppenzeller #MartyrdomMemorial #ChristianHistory #MissionaryMartyrdom #JoseonMission #BaejaeHakdang #Pilgrimage #ChristianHeritage #ModernMission #EducationalMission
๐ฝ️ Food & Cafe Tags #Iseongdang #GamsungStoryCafe #CafeEeocha #Jirinseong #GunsanRestaurants #GunsanCafes #RedBeanBread #VegetableBread
๐ Travel Style Tags #PilgrimageTrip #FaithTrip #HistoryTrip #ModernCultureTrip #EducationalTrip #MissionaryTrip #DayTrip #2Day1NightTrip #FamilyTrip #ChurchTrip
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