Gyesan Catholic Church Audio Guide & Tour — Things to Do in Daegu, Korea

About

Kyesan Catholic Church is the first Gothic-style Catholic church in the Yeongnam region and the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu. It started as a hanok church in 1899, but after being destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt to its current appearance in 1902 under the direction of Father Poisnel, who designed Myeongdong Cathedral. The exterior blending red and grey bricks, along with two symmetrical pointed bell towers, earned it the nickname 'Pointed House' as the first Western-style building in Daegu at the time.

Inside the church, you can see beautiful stained glass made in France; in particular, the figures of Korea martyrs wearing hanbok are engraved, adding deep meaning. In the church courtyard, there is the 'Lee In-sung Tree' that appears in the paintings of genius painter Lee In-sung, and nearby are the March 1st Independence Movement Road and Cheongna-eondeok, making it a good place to view the panorama of the church along with modern history.

Stories you can hear here

8 stories · about 10 min

IntroThe Earthquake Fire That Swallowed a Traditional Korean Church33 sec
SpotTwin SpiresOctagonal Gothic Spires Soaring Into the Skyabout 1 min
SpotAugustine BellThe Seo Sang-don Bell That Stopped Ringing and Moved to an Exhibition Hallabout 1 min
SpotZelmana BellThe Coppery Bell Moved to an Exhibition Hallabout 1 min
SpotLee In-sung Tree (Persimmon Tree)The 100-Year-Old Persimmon Tree That Filled the Canvasabout 1 min

Show 3 more

StoryWhy Flat Land Was Chosen Over a Hillabout 2 min
StoryA Burst of Laughter at a Wartime Weddingabout 1 min
StoryThe Bells Holding the Spirit of the National Debt Repayment Movementabout 1 min

Preview

Why did the traditional Korean-style church, decorated with beautiful traditional paintwork, burn to the ground only about two years after it was built? An earthquake knocked over the candles on the altar, starting a tragic fire that destroyed the building. Following that disaster, Daegu's first Western-style pointed-roof building was constructed—the Kyesan Catholic Church that stands right in front of you today. Now, step inside the church, guided by the brilliant Eurasian light brought over from France.

Keep listening in the app — stories play automatically by GPS as you get close.Keep listening in the app

Visitor info

Address: 10, Seoseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
Hours: Mass schedule: Sunday 06:30, 08:30, 09:30, 11:00 (Parish), 16:00 (Youth), 17:30, 20:00, 21:30; Monday 06:30; Tuesday-Friday 06:30, 11:30, 19:30; Saturday 06:30, 16:00 (Children), 19:30 (Adolescents). Mass times are subject to change depending on parish circumstances, so please check before visiting.