Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gwangju 광주, South Korea 🇰🇷

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Gwangju 광주 / Kwangju / 光州 (正體中文) / Kvangiuen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Jeju 제주, Jeonju 전주

Neighbouring Dioceses: Jeonju 전주 (↑), Masan 마산 (→), Jeju 제주 (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1937.04.13: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kwoszu (from Apostolic Vicariate of Taiku 대구)
1950.07.12: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Gwangju 광주 / Kwangju / 光州 (正體中文) / Kvangiuen(sis) (Latin)
1957.01.21: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Gwangju 광주 / Kwangju / 光州 (正體中文) / Kvangiuen(sis) (Latin)
1962.03.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gwangju 광주 / Kwangju / 光州 (正體中文) / Kvangiuen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan see Jeonju 전주)
1971.06.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Cheju 제주 and gained suffragan see Cheju 제주

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1984.05)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2022.11.19 – ...):

Archbishop Simon Ok Hyun-jjn (옥현진 시몬 / 玉賢進) (58)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Gwangju 광주 (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Simon Ok Hyun-jjn (옥현진 시몬 / 玉賢進) (58)
(2022.11.19 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea)
General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea

내 안에 머물러라

Born:	1968.03.05 (Kwangju, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1994.01.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.07.06

Priest of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1994.01.26 – 2011.05.12)

Titular Bishop of Pederodiana (2011.05.12 – 2022.11.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (2011.05.12 – 2022.11.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (2022.11.19 – ...)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (2023.10.11 – ...)

Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong (김희중 히지노 / 金熙中) (79)
(2010.03.25 – 2022.11.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea)

Fiat voluntas Domini / 주님 뜻대로

Born:	1947.02.21 (Mokpo, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1975.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.08.18

Priest of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1975.07.05 – 2003.07.09)

Titular Bishop of Corniculana (2003.07.09 – 2009.07.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (2003.07.09 – 2009.07.10)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (2009.07.10 – 2010.03.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (2010.03.25 – 2022.11.19)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (2014.10.30 – 2020.10.15)

Archbishop Andreas Choi Chang-mou (최창무 안드레아 / 崔昌武) (89)
(2000.11.30 – 2010.03.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea)

말씀은 생명의 빛

Born:	1936.09.15 (Munsan, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1963.06.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.03.25

Priest of Seoul 서울 (South Korea) (1963.06.09 – 1994.02.03)

Titular Bishop of Flumenpiscense (1994.02.03 – 1999.02.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul 서울 (South Korea) (1994.02.03 – 1999.02.09)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1999.02.09 – 2000.11.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (2000.11.30 – 2010.03.25)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (2002 – 2005)

Archbishop Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (윤공희 빅토리노 / 尹恭熙) (101)
(1973.10.25 – 2000.11.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea)

Pax Christi / 그리스도의 평화

Born:	1924.11.08 (Chinnamp’o, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1950.03.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.10.20

Priest of Seoul 서울 (South Korea) (1950.03.20 – 1963.10.07)

Bishop of Suwon 수원 (South Korea) (1963.10.07 – 1973.10.25)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (1967 – 1970)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1973.10.25 – 2000.11.30)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (1975 – 1981)

Archbishop Peter Han Kong-ryel (한공렬 베드로)
(1971 – 1973.03.07)

In verbo tuo laxabo rete

Born:	1913.02.03 (Incheon, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1939.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.03.12
Died:	1973.03.07 († 60)

Titular Bishop of Sagalassus (1961.01.03 – 1962.03.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1961.01.03 – 1962.03.10)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1962.03.10 – 1971)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1971 – 1973.03.07)

Archbishop Harold William Henry (현 하롤드), S.S.C.M.E.
(1962.03.10 – 1971.06.28)

Ad Jesum per Mariam

Born:	1909.07.11 (Minneapolis, MN, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1932.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.05.11
Died:	1976.03.01 (Chejo-do, South Korea † 66)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1950.07 – 1957.01.26)

Titular Bishop of Corydala (1957.01.26 – 1962.03.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1957.01.26 – 1962.03.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1962.03.10 – 1971.06.28)

Titular Archbishop of Thubunæ in Numidia (1971.06.28 – 1976.03.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Cheju 제주 (South Korea) (1971.06.28 – 1976.03.01)

Vicars Apostolic of Gwangju 광주 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Harold William Henry (현 하롤드), S.S.C.M.E. (later Archbishop)
(1957.01.26 – 1962.03.10)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Gwangju 광주 (Roman Rite)

Fr. Harold William Henry (현 하롤드), S.S.C.M.E. (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1950.07 – 1957.01.26)

Msgr. Patrick Thomas Brennan (안 파트리치오), S.S.C.M.E.
(1948.11.12 – 1950.09.24)

Born:	1901.03.13 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1928
Died:	1950.09.24 († 49)

Prefect Apostolic of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1948.11.12 – 1950.09.24)

Killed in Taejon prison.

Prefects Apostolic of Kwoszu (Roman Rite)

Fr. Owen MacPolin (임 오엔), S.S.C.M.E.
(1945.08.15 – 1947.10)

Born:	1889 (Hilltown, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1913
Died:	1963.02.28 († 73)

Prefect Apostolic of Kwoszu (South Korea) (1937.04.13 – 1942.02.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Shunsen (South Korea) (1939 – 1941)

Prefect Apostolic of Kwoszu (South Korea) (1945.08.15 – 1947.10)

Fr. Thomas Asagoro Wakida (トマ脇田浅五郎) (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1943.02.07 – 1945.09.16)

Fr. Owen MacPolin (임 오엔), S.S.C.M.E.
(1937.04.13 – 1942.02.15)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong (김희중 히지노 / 金熙中) (79) (2009.07.10 – 2010.03.25)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Andreas Choi Chang-mou (최창무 안드레아 / 崔昌武) (89) (1999.02.09 – 2000.11.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Simon Ok Hyun-jjn (옥현진 시몬 / 玉賢進) (58) (later Archbishop) (2011.05.12 – 2022.11.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong (김희중 히지노 / 金熙中) (79) (later Archbishop) (2003.07.09 – 2009.07.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop James Edward Michaels (권야고보), S.S.C.M.E. (1966.02.15 – 1973.04.03)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Imdong Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Gwangju 광주시, Gwangju-gwangyeoksi 광주광역시
Co-Cathedral: Bukdong Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Gwangju 광주시, Gwangju-gwangyeoksi 광주광역시
Minor Basilica: Basilica of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Mokpo 목포시, Jeollanam-do 전라남도
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Jeonju 전주 (↑), Masan 마산 (→), Jeju 제주 (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 12,859 km²

Population: 366,267 Catholics (11.3% of 3,248,747 total)

Pastoral Centres: 142 parishes, 5 missions

Personnel: 341 priests (272 diocesan, 69 religious), 651 religious (120 brothers, 531 sisters), 58 seminarians