Career
Saint John Yi Yun-il was killed at Gwandeokjeong, a military training center in the city of Daegu in modern-day South of Korea, in the course of the Joseon Dynasty"s persecution of Catholics that began in 1866. Though flogged until the flesh of his limbs was torn, he remained strong in the Christian faith, and he was finally decapitated. He is one of two patron saints of the Archdiocese of Daegu, along with Our Lady of Lourdes.
His body is preserved in a chapel in the Archdiocese of Daegu.
At the time of Saint John"s death, the site of his execution, Gwandeokjeong was used for the execution of criminals. Due to the number of Christian martyrs who were executed there, the site is now treated by the Archdiocese as a sacred place.
Saint John Yi Yun-il"s feast day is January 21, the day of his death, and he is also venerated along with the rest of the 103 Korean martyrs on September 20.
