After the Joseon dynasty concluded a commercial treaty with United States in 1882, Marie-Jean-Gustave Blanc, M.E.P., Apostolic Vicar of Korea, sought land to build a mission. Under the name Kim Gamilo, he acquired a vacant lot on Jonghyeon (Chong-Hyen), meaning "Bell Hill"; due to its proximity to a Confucian temple, Koreans had declined to build there.
Following the Joseon dynasty's agreement with the United States in 1882, Marie-Jean-Gustave Blanc, M.E.P., Apostolic Vicar of Korea, acquired land for a mission on Jonghyeon (Chong-Hyen), which translates to "Bell Hill." Koreans had previously declined to build there due to its proximity to a Confucian temple.