“Religion of the Lord of Heaven”. That’s what Catholicism is called in South Korea. Today, we explore Jangandong Catholic Church in Seoul. It’s part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Pope in Rome leads it.
The Catholic Church has deep roots here. Gregorio Céspedes, a Spanish priest, may have been the first missionary in Korea. He arrived in Busan in 1593. Catholicism gained traction in 1784. Yi Seung-hun was baptized in China. He returned to Korea with religious texts. He then baptized many Koreans.
The Joseon dynasty targeted Catholics in the 19th century. They opposed ancestral worship. The state saw it as essential to Korean culture. Despite persecution, the Church grew. Thousands were martyred. Pope John Paul II canonized 103 martyrs in 1984. Saint Andrew Taegon Kim was among them. He was the first Korean priest.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Korea formed in 1831. The Church expanded over the next century. In 1962, the three Metropolitan Provinces emerged. Each had an Archdiocese and Dioceses.
In 2023, the Catholic Church in South Korea had almost six million members. That’s 11.3% of the population. There are nearly 5,000 priests. Around 9,000 nuns serve in 1,842 parishes.
Surveys in 2020 showed that 45% of South Koreans had no religion. About 22% were Buddhists. Christians made up 29.2%. Catholics were 11.1%. Protestants were 18%. Christianity is the largest religion in South Korea.
The Church has grown significantly. Between 1997 and 2021, membership rose from 7.9% to 11.3%. The Church is well-regarded. It helped South Korea democratize. It actively participates in social welfare. It respects interfaith relations. The Church approaches traditional Korean spirituality respectfully.
There are 15 dioceses. Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju are archdioceses. There is also a military ordinariate. North Korea suppresses Christianity. South Korean Church officials estimate only 5,000 Catholics live there.
South Korea has the fourth-largest number of saints since 1984. This includes the Korean Martyrs.
Pope Francis visited South Korea in August 2014. He celebrated Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral. He beatified 124 Korean Catholic martyrs.
Catholicism has integrated Confucian customs. These customs are integral to Korean culture. South Korean Catholics still practice ancestral rites. They observe Confucian customs and philosophies. Jangandong Catholic Church stands as a testament to this integration. It showcases the faith’s journey in Korea.