The remains of three people believed to be the very first Korean Catholic martyrs have been discovered some 200 years after their deaths.

The Catholic Diocese of Jeonju said Wednesday that the remains were identified as Paul Yun Ji-chung, James Kwon Sang-yeon and Yun's younger brother Francis Yun Ji-heon. 

They were found in Wanju, North Jeolla Province, in March. 

During the persecution of Catholics in 1791, Yun and Kwon were beheaded after being tortured for holding a Catholic funeral, while the younger brother was quartered a decade later. All three were beatified by Pope Francis in 2014. 

Various historical research and tests were conducted to verify the identities of the remains. Head of the diocese Bishop John Kim Son-tae has called the discovery a monumental event.