Evaluation of Preservation Value for Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine: Applying the Two‐Stage Contingent Valuation Evaluation

ABSTRACT The preservation of religious cultural heritage holds considerable significant owing to its historical and cultural value. Pilgrims are attracted to sites associated with Christ and martyrs, seeking to establish deeper spiritual connections. The Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine, recognized as the first Vatican‐designated international pilgrimage site in Asia, holds historical importance as a sacred location where numerous Catholic clergy were martyred during the late Joseon period. Despite the critical importance of martyrdom sites, research on willingness to pay (WTP) for their preservation remains relatively scarce. This study estimates the preservation value of the Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine, revealing a truncated mean WTP of 98.68 USD per household annually. These findings underscore the importance of preservation efforts, as the Shrine holds substantial cultural and spiritual significance for contemporary Korean history and the Korean Catholic Church.