Myeongdong Cathedral ( 명동성당 )

It is the first Catholic Church of Archdiocese of Seoul and the headquarters of Korean Catholic. French priest, E. Coast himself designed and finished the building. It is the only pure Gothic type building in Korea, but it is hard to say it is the typical Gothic style made of stone. Although it is less solemn, the building is harmonious with well arranged red bricks. The remains of the martyr who passed away because of the catholic persecution are buried in the underground Catholic Church under the alter of Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral. The inside is open for the public except for the time of mass. This place especially was the shrine of the pro-democracy movement in 80’s~90’s; a lot of democratic protests continued on with the Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in its center. Many democratic activists hid themselves under the protection of this Cathedral.