Pierre Maubant was a French Catholic priest and missionary born in Vassy in 1803. As a member of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris, he became the first French missionary to serve in Korea. He dedicated much of his work to training local Korean youths in theology and Latin, sending several students to Macau for their education. Following the advice of Bishop Laurent Imbert, he surrendered himself to the authorities to protect local believers from persecution, leading to his eventual martyrdom in Seoul.
Life and mission
After joining his missionary congregation in 1831, Maubant was sent to China before arriving in Korea. He recognized the importance of local leadership and mentored young men, including Andrew Kim, to prepare them for the priesthood. During a period of intense persecution, he chose to emerge from hiding to shield his Korean followers from the wrath of the government.
Death and veneration
Maubant was executed by decapitation in Seoul on September 21, 1839. He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and later canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984 alongside 103 Korean martyrs. The Catholic Church commemorates his life and martyrdom on September 20.