Seoul (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Peter Chung Soon-taick, O.C.D., Archbishop
Job Koo Yobi, Ist. del Prado, Auxiliary Bishop
Paul Kyung Sang Lee, Auxiliary Bishop
Timothy Yu Gyoung-chon, Auxiliary Bishop
Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 10 March 1962
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Korea, Republic of
Square Kilometers: 17,349 (6,701 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://aos.catholic.or.kr/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04537, Korea
Telephone: (02)727-2024
Fax: 773-1947

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Corea
- Erected: 9 September 1831
- Vicariate
- Country: Korea, Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Seul
- Latin Name: de Seul
- Name Changed: 8 April 1911
- Vicariate
- Country: Korea, Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul
- Latin Name: de Seoul
- Name Changed: 12 July 1950
- Vicariate
- Country: Korea, Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Barthélemy Bruguière, M.E.P. † (9 Sep 1831 Appointed - 20 Oct 1835 Died)
St. Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert, M.E.P. † (26 Apr 1836 Appointed - 21 Sep 1839 Died)
Jean-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste Ferréol, M.E.P. † (14 Aug 1843 Appointed - 3 Feb 1853 Died)
St. Siméon-François Berneux, M.E.P. † (15 Jul 1854 Appointed - 8 Mar 1866 Died)
St. Antoine-Marie-Nicolas Daveluy, M.E.P. † (8 Mar 1866 Succeeded - 30 Mar 1866 Died)
Félix-Clair Ridel, M.E.P. † (27 Apr 1869 Appointed - 20 Jun 1884 Died)
Marie-Jean-Gustave Blanc, M.E.P. † (20 Jun 1884 Succeeded - 21 Feb 1890 Died)
Gustave-Charles-Marie Mutel, M.E.P. † (2 Sep 1890 Appointed - 22 Jan 1933 Died)
Adrien-Joseph Larribeau, M.E.P. † (22 Jan 1933 Succeeded - 5 Jan 1942 Resigned)
Paul Marie Kinam Ro † (10 Nov 1942 Appointed - 23 Mar 1967 Resigned)
Stephen Kim Sou-hwan † (9 Apr 1968 Appointed - 3 Apr 1998 Retired)
Nicholas Cheong Jin-Suk † (3 Apr 1998 Appointed - 10 May 2012 Retired)
Andrew Yeom Soo-jung (10 May 2012 Appointed - 28 Oct 2021 Retired)
Peter Chung Soon-taick, O.C.D. (28 Oct 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Corea
9 September 1831	Erected	Diocese of Peking [Beijing]	Vicariate Apostolic of Corea (erected)
8 April 1911	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Corea (Kiengsyàng-to and Tiyen-la-to)	Vicariate Apostolic of Taiku (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Seul
8 April 1911	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Corea	Vicariate Apostolic of Seul
5 August 1920	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Seul (Ham-Kiang-to (North and South))	Vicariate Apostolic of Wonsan (erected)
17 March 1927	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Seul (North and South Hpyen-an-to)	Prefecture Apostolic of Hpyeng-yang (erected)
25 April 1939	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Seul (Kang-uen-to (Kogendo))	Prefecture Apostolic of Shunsen (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul
12 July 1950	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Seul	Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul
23 June 1958	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul (Chungcheongnam-do)	Vicariate Apostolic of Cheong-ju (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Daijeon (erected)
6 June 1961	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul	Vicariate Apostolic of Inch’on (erected)
Archdiocese of Seoul
10 March 1962	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul	Archdiocese of Seoul
7 October 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Seoul (Su-Won and Bu-Cheon-Kun, Si-Hung-Kun, Hwa-Seong-Kun, PyeongTaek-Kun, Kwang-Ju- Kun, Yong-In-Kun, An-Seong-Kun, I-Keon-Kun, Yang-Pyeong-Kun, and Yeo-Ju-Kun)	Diocese of Suwon (erected)
15 September 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Seoul (Kye Yang Myeon and Ko-Tchon Myeon)	Diocese of Incheon {Inch’on}
19 November 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Seoul (Kapyong and Pochon)	Diocese of Ch’unch’ŏn
24 June 2004	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Seoul (Northerm Kyounggi with Uijongbu, Koyang, Kuri, Namyang, Paju, Tongduchon-Yangju, and Yeonchon)	Diocese of Uijeongbu (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Seul

1949 65,882 5,752,000 1.1% 81 81 813 250 46 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul

Archdiocese of Seoul

1970 156,722 5,953,481 2.6% 183 80 263 595 190 824 58 ap1971

1980 349,314 8,872,133 3.9% 183 99 282 1,238 249 906 103 ap1981

1990 915,813 11,511,038 8.0% 287 128 415 2,206 369 1,729 138 ap1991

1999 1,253,392 12,262,602 10.2% 554 185 739 1,696 475 2,319 203 ap2000

2000 1,299,904 12,358,958 10.5% 651 176 827 1,571 505 2,399 216 ap2001

2001 1,341,528 12,497,135 10.7% 607 200 807 1,662 524 2,168 227 ap2002

2002 1,370,021 12,488,158 11.0% 617 200 817 1,676 523 2,520 238 ap2003

2003 1,409,022 12,519,153 11.3% 658 215 873 1,614 546 2,230 248 ap2004

2004 1,247,150 10,207,295 12.2% 591 245 836 1,491 576 2,102 197 ap2005

2010 1,406,710 10,464,051 13.4% 655 270 925 1,520 503 1,774 219 ap2011

2014 1,472,815 10,143,645 14.5% 683 225 908 1,622 445 1,837 229 ap2015

2017 1,521,241 9,930,616 15.3% 756 233 989 1,538 432 1,935 229 ap2018

2020 1,528,876 10,034,529 15.2% 810 264 1,074 1,423 445 1,966 232 ap2021

2022 1,534,887 9,765,869 15.7% 820 288 1,108 1,385 474 1,972 232 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Seul
1949	65,882	5,752,000	1.1%	81		81	813		250	46	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Seoul
Archdiocese of Seoul
1970	156,722	5,953,481	2.6%	183	80	263	595	190	824	58	ap1971
1980	349,314	8,872,133	3.9%	183	99	282	1,238	249	906	103	ap1981
1990	915,813	11,511,038	8.0%	287	128	415	2,206	369	1,729	138	ap1991
1999	1,253,392	12,262,602	10.2%	554	185	739	1,696	475	2,319	203	ap2000
2000	1,299,904	12,358,958	10.5%	651	176	827	1,571	505	2,399	216	ap2001
2001	1,341,528	12,497,135	10.7%	607	200	807	1,662	524	2,168	227	ap2002
2002	1,370,021	12,488,158	11.0%	617	200	817	1,676	523	2,520	238	ap2003
2003	1,409,022	12,519,153	11.3%	658	215	873	1,614	546	2,230	248	ap2004
2004	1,247,150	10,207,295	12.2%	591	245	836	1,491	576	2,102	197	ap2005
2010	1,406,710	10,464,051	13.4%	655	270	925	1,520	503	1,774	219	ap2011
2014	1,472,815	10,143,645	14.5%	683	225	908	1,622	445	1,837	229	ap2015
2017	1,521,241	9,930,616	15.3%	756	233	989	1,538	432	1,935	229	ap2018
2020	1,528,876	10,034,529	15.2%	810	264	1,074	1,423	445	1,966	232	ap2021
2022	1,534,887	9,765,869	15.7%	820	288	1,108	1,385	474	1,972	232	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Andreas Choi Chang-mou (Priest: 9 Jun 1963; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Feb 1994 to 9 Feb 1999)
Basil Cho Kyu-man (Priest: 26 Aug 1982; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Jan 2006 to 31 Mar 2016)
Peter Chung Soon-taick, O.C.D. (Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Dec 2013; Archbishop: 28 Oct 2021 - )
Peter Kang U-il (Priest: 9 Dec 1974; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Dec 1985 to 15 Jul 2002)
Lucas Kim Woon-hoe (Un-hoe) (Priest: 8 Dec 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Oct 2002 to 28 Jan 2010)
Job Koo Yobi, Ist. del Prado (Priest: 24 Feb 1981; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Jun 2017)
Paul Kyung Sang Lee (Priest: 12 Feb 1988; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Feb 2024)
Joseph Lee Han-taek, S.J. (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Nov 2001 to 5 Jul 2004)
Titus Seo Sang-Beom (Priest: 12 Feb 1988 to 2 Feb 2021)
Benedictus Son Hee-Song (Priest: 4 Jul 1986; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Jul 2015 to 13 Mar 2024)
Andrew Yeom Soo-jung (Priest: 8 Dec 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Dec 2001; Archbishop: 10 May 2012 to 28 Oct 2021)
Timothy Yu Gyoung-chon (Priest: 30 Jan 1992; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Dec 2013)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

St. Siméon-François Berneux, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jul 1854 to 8 Mar 1866)
Marie-Jean-Gustave Blanc, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jul 1882; Vicar Apostolic: 20 Jun 1884 to 21 Feb 1890)
Barthélemy Bruguière, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Sep 1831 to 20 Oct 1835)
Nicholas Cheong Jin-Suk † (Priest: 18 Mar 1961 to 25 Jun 1970; Archbishop: 3 Apr 1998 to 10 May 2012)
St. Antoine-Marie-Nicolas Daveluy, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 13 Nov 1855; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Mar 1866 to 30 Mar 1866)
Émile-Alexandre-Joseph Devred, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 20 Dec 1920 to 18 Jan 1926)
Jean-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste Ferréol, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Aug 1843 to 3 Feb 1853)
Peter Hoang Min Syeng †
St. Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Apr 1836 to 21 Sep 1839)
Bartholomew Kim Kyon Pae †
Paul Kim Ok-kyun † (Priest: 18 Dec 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Mar 1985 to 12 Dec 2001)
Stephen Kim Sou-hwan † (Archbishop: 9 Apr 1968 to 3 Apr 1998)
Paul Marie Kinam Ro † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Nov 1942; Archbishop: 10 Mar 1962 to 23 Mar 1967)
Joseph Kyeong Kap-ryong † (Priest: 21 Dec 1962; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Feb 1977 to 2 Jul 1984)
Adrien-Joseph Larribeau, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 23 Dec 1926; Vicar Apostolic: 22 Jan 1933 to 5 Jan 1942)
Gustave-Charles-Marie Mutel, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Sep 1890 to 22 Jan 1933)
Michael Pak Jeong-il †
Félix-Clair Ridel, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Apr 1869 to 20 Jun 1884)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Corea
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 131, to Page 132
Vicariate Apostolic of Seul
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 224, and Page 225

Archdiocese of Seoul