“Like gathering scattered pearls.” That’s how one blogger described visiting Seoul’s Pungnap-dong Catholic Church. The church is a testament to faith and architectural uniqueness.
Pungnap-dong Catholic Church started as a Gongso. It was established within the main church of Cheonho-dong in 1988. By 1989 it was promoted to a parish. The current church building began with a preparatory committee in 1992. Construction started in 1995. The church was finally completed in 1999.
The church’s location presents unique challenges. It is nestled in a residential area. The road in front of the church is a narrow one-way street. The site is oddly shaped. This adds to the church’s distinctive character. The parking lot is located underground.
Across from the parking lot stands a statue of the Virgin Mary greeting visitors. The building’s design is truly special. The front of the building has stairs leading to the sanctuary. However it looks like the design is not efficient.
The ceiling above the stairs is empty and shaped like a dome. Light streams through stained glass. This creates an interesting effect. The doors to the main sanctuary have traditional Korean window patterns.
Saint Jeong Ha-sang Paul is the patron saint of this parish. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1984. The movie “Jasaneobo” filmed its introduction here.
Inside the sanctuary has a triangular layout. Some say this shape was unavoidable. It was due to the limited land. To mitigate the triangular shape the space was arranged asymmetrically.
The church also has stained glass windows. They let in light. The windows feature traditional Korean lattice patterns. The church tried to incorporate Korean elements. This is evident in the extensive use of wood.
There is a replica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the right side of the altar. The church’s architecture and history create a unique and reverent space for worship. The church stands as a beacon of faith. It is nestled within the urban landscape.
The journey to complete Pungnap-dong Catholic Church was long. There were changes in design. There were difficulties. Despite these challenges the church was completed.