Although the Korean Catholic Church has a relatively short history of only 225 years, it has brought out numerous great martyrs and martyress (herein after, to be called simply 'martyr'). 103 among them were already canonized on May 6, 1984, and further beatification/canonization processes for martyrs such as Yun Ji-Chung(Paulus) and his 123 comrades as well as Rev. Choi Yang-Up(Thomas) are currently pending. However, all these martyrs died in the 18th or 19th centuries during the Chosen Dynasty. Martyrs from the 20th century are not included in the above group. The Order of St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey officially expressed its intention to initiate a procedure for beatification/canonization (herein after to be called simply 'beatification'), of the benedictine martyrs in the 20th century in Korea through an ordinance released on May 10, 2007. These martyrs totals 36 in number and all belonged either to the Abbas Nullius of Tokwon and concurrently Vicar Apostolic of Hamheung, both managed by the Benedictine. This is an honourable undertaking made for the first time in the 125 years history of the Congregation of St. Ottilien, and, at the same time, it is a first attempt to beatify martyrs of the 20th century in the Korean church history. These martyrs were victims of the North Korean communist regime, which has seized power over the northern half of the Korean peninsula after the liberation of Korea from the Japanese rulership in 1945. The communist regime feared that religions might form kernels for anticommunist movements. In particular, after the formal launch of the North Korean government in September 1948, the communist regime has started more direct and enforced religious repressions by arresting, imprisoning, and killing the clerics and monks, as well as ouster, expropriating, and destroying religious assets, for the purpose of annihilating all religions in North Korea. Many of the Benedictines working in the areas of Tokwon and Hamheung died due to the communist repression during this period. Classified in the sequence of time, the martyrs died in the first period of the arrestment to the imprisonment into Pyongyang Peoples Prison (1949~1950), or in the second period of their detainment in the prisons (1949~1950), or in the third period of forced labour in the concentration camps (1949~1954). The 36 martyrs, who had to suffer unimaginable hardships and died for their faith, comprise 19 dead persons including Most Rev. Bonifatius Sauer, O.S.B.; 11 missing persons; 4 Korean clerics and 2 nuns, who took care of christians scattered all over the country to the last minute and died. 19 martyrs died during their capture in the prison or in the concentration camp. 17 martyrs were killed. As to the first group, the causes of death were disease infections or worsening of chronical diseases due to the inferior living conditions; excessive labour of 16 to 17 hours everyday; malnutrition by hunger; frostbite due to the lack of clothes; and, in addition to that, mental as well as physical cruelties and tortures. As to the second group, they were killed by shooting. After the UN force has recaptured Seoul on September 28, 1950, the North Koreans had to flee away from the advancing UN and South Korean forces. Before the hurried retreat, massive executions of prisoners were carried out by the communists in a short period of time from October 3, 1950. The martyrs were killed at suburban cemeteries or lonely mountainsides together with political prisoners and criminals. Accordingly, identifying their tombs is very difficult in contrast to the martyrs who died in the prisons or labour camps. Regarding places of the martyrdom, 13 persons died in the Pyongyang Peoples Prison, 13 persons in the Oksad?k Concentration Camp in Jagangdo, 1 person in the Manpo Peoples Prison in Jagangdo, 3 persons in the Kwanmunli Concentration Camp in Jagangdo, 1 person in Bihyun of Euijukun in North Pyongan Province, 1 person in the city of Chungjin in North Hamkyung Province, 1 person in the Hamheung Peoples Prison, 1 person in the city of Wonsan in South Hamkyung Province, and 2 persons in Sunan of Pyongwonkun in South Pyongan Province. Classified by the jurisdiction 26 persons belonged to the Tokwon Abbey, 1 person to the Yenki Abbey, 1 person to the Beuron Abbey, 4 persons to the Wonsan Convent, and 4 persons to the Abbas Nullius of Tokwon and concurrently Vicar Apostolic of Hamheung. Classified by the nationality, 11 persons were Koreans and 25 persons were Germans. Among the 32 martyrs, excluding the 4 clerics of Tokwon/Hamhung diocese, 19 persons came from the St. Ottilien Abbey, 2 persons from the Munsterschwarzach Abbey, 1 person from the Beuron Abbey, 1 person from the Schweikiberg Abbey, 4 persons from the Tokwon Abbey, 1 person from the Yenki Abbey, 2 persons from the Tutzing Convent, and 2 persons from the Wonsan Convent. Classified by the church hierarchy, 1 person was bishop, 14 were monastery clerics, 13 were monks, 3 were nuns, 1 was devotee, and 4 were diocesan clerics. The petition for beatification of the above 36 benedictine martyrs by the Waegwan Abbey is also very significant for the Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien since this is the first such petition for its member in its 125 years history. For the Korean Catholic Church this step means that the first endeavor is made for beatification of its martyr in the 20th century. This petition of the Benedictines attracts attention and support of the Korean church because the preparation and progress of the beatification procedure might work as a pioneer and model for Korean dioceses, monasteries and convents, as well as for missions.