Zealous preacher in the early Korean Catholic community (baptismal name Francis Xavier); died on the road to exile after the 1791 Sinhae persecution
| Life | 1791 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 안동 권씨 |
Gwon Il-sin (died 1791) was an early leader of the Korean Catholic community from Andong, with the baptismal name Francis Xavier. His elder brother was the Seongho-school scholar Gwon Cheol-sin, and he is introduced as a native of Yanggeun.
He joined at Yi Byeok's urging in 1784 and is said to have converted figures such as Yi Jon-chang and Yu Hang-geom; arrested in the 1791 Sinhae persecution, he died on the road to exile from the after-effects of torture.
He is said to have studied doctrine at Cheonjin-am and Jueosa from around 1777, joined in 1784 and became an enthusiastic evangelist; the Yanggeun area was called a cradle of Western Learning.
In 1787 he was named a priest by Yi Seung-hun but, learning that the provisional hierarchy contradicted doctrine, returned to lay status and asked Beijing to send clergy.
Arrested in 1791, he wrote a recantation at his aged mother's entreaty and his place of exile was changed from Jeju to Yesan; he died of his wounds en route. His brother Gwon Cheol-sin is said not to have left home for years afterward.
Tomb information was not confirmed.