Marcellinus Choe Chang-ju was a Korean Catholic blessed who lived in Yeoju during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Born into a noble family in 1749, he converted to Catholicism at the age of 40. Because the Korean authorities were hostile toward Christians, he faced significant persecution for his faith. After being arrested in 1791 and temporarily released following a denial of his beliefs under torture, he was re-arrested in 1800. He was eventually executed by beheading in 1801 alongside two other Catholic companions.
Life and death
After his initial arrest in 1791, Choe experienced deep regret for having renounced his faith under duress. This led to his second imprisonment in 1800, where he endured further torture. He remained steadfast in his convictions until his death on April 25, 1801. He was executed in Yeoju at the age of 52, dying as a martyr alongside Marcin Yi Jung-bae and Jan Won Gyeong-do.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes him as a martyr, a status confirmed by Pope Francis in 2014. During a visit to South Korea in August of that same year, the Pope beatified him as part of a group containing 124 Korean martyrs. His feast day is observed annually on May 31.