Peter Song Baek-dol was born in a family living in front of Nammyo (now in Do-dong ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul), a shrine for Guan Yu, a legendary warrior and hero in Chinese history. He lived in Oegyo (present-day near Gwanghui-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul), making a living as a maker of leather shoes. His adult name was ‘Chimyeong’. He learned the catechism from his mother who was a Catholic and he became a Catholic.
One day, his father, a non-Catholic, accepted a girl as a future daughter-in-law. However, Peter sent her back to her family, after coming to know that it was against Catholic teaching to accept a girl as a future wife. He married Ms. Im, a Catholic who lived in Bangagoji, Siheung (presumably present-day Bangadarigol, Misan-dong, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do). He had children and diligently led a life of faith with her.
The Byeongin Persecution broke out in 1866 and the following year Peter Song Baek-dol was arrested. Kim Gyeong-jang who ran a Chinese store was arrested. During his interrogation, he could not bear the torture and finally gave them the name of Peter Song Baek-dol. Shortly afterwards Peter Song was taken to U-Podocheong (the right bureau of the Police Headquarters) and met Kim Gyeong-jang in prison. Kim Gyeong-jang apologized to him, “Please forgive me.
I could not bear the torture and told them your name.” Peter consoled Kim Gyeong-jang instead by saying, “Do not dwell on it. It is by God’s providence that you told them my name and I was brought here.” When Peter was put in prison after going through interrogation and torture at the Police Headquarters, he continued to memorize the catechism and encourage fellow Catholic prisoners by saying, “Let us go to Heaven with joy” while beating out rhythms on a pillory. It was said that even guards in the prison praised him by saying, “Song Baek-dol is the best among Catholics” when they heard his words. He was detained in prison, undergoing interrogation and torture and eventually he died a martyr after March 24, 1867 (February 19 by the lunar calendar) at the age of 44.
