Chojang Church

Overview

Chojang Church is a church in Chojang-dong, Seo-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, belonging to the Busan Diocese. The parish was established on October 11, 1959, its patron saint is St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, and the church building dedicated in 1963 and designed by Father Albin of Waegwan Abbey is a modernist-style building.

History

[Background of foundation] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, during the Korean War, Seo-gu in Busan developed rapidly as it became a hub of activity for the provisional capital, and its population grew sharply. Immediately after the war, there was only the Seodaesin-dong Parish in Seo-gu, so the faithful in the Chojang-dong area belonged to Jungang Parish, but Jungang Parish had too large a jurisdiction and operated the parish with a district chair and council in each district. The 3 pastor of Jungang Parish, Father Jang Byeong-hwa (Joseph), felt the need to establish a new parish in Seo-gu and argued for it at the diocesan council, and together with the local district chair Park Do-seon (Joseph) looked for a parish site. The Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia states that Chojang Church was established for the pastoral care and evangelization of the Chojang-dong, Toseong-dong, Bumin-dong and Chungmu-dong area in southern Seo-gu.

[Foundation of the parish] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that in 1958 the site (600 pyeong) and building (30 pyeong) at the present parish location were purchased, and in September 1958 50–60 faithful celebrated the first Mass there. The Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia states that in 1958 a house on a site of 2,000㎡ with a building of 100㎡ was purchased. The Busan Diocese established the Chojang Parish in October 1959 and appointed the German Father Joachim Werner (J. Werner) as the first pastor, and the Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia gives the foundation date as October 11, 1959.

[Construction and dedication of the church] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Father Werner drew up a plan to build a church, but the plan fell through when he returned to Germany on October 3, 1960, and the pastorate remained vacant until March 1962. During that time Father Jang Byeong-hwa concurrently provided pastoral care, and Sunday Mass was celebrated by Father Kim Dong-uk (Matthias) of Suyeong Parish (now Gwangan). After the 2 pastor, Father Ji Hak-sun (Daniel), took office, he organized a church construction committee in September 1962 and began new construction, completing it in September of the following year, and the dedication ceremony was held with Bishop Choi Jae-seon (John) presiding. The Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia gives the dedication date as September 26, 1963.

[Early activities and division] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Father Ji Hak-sun prepared a branch of the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters in August 1963 and founded a youth group in December of the following year. The 3 pastor, Father Kim Jin-ha, completed the bell tower in June 1965 and opened the parish-affiliated Seongmo Kindergarten. Under the 4 pastor, Father Jang Ju-min, the Anna Association (1968.7) and the Yeondo Association (1968.10) were organized. The 5 pastor, Father Guillermo (J. Guillermo, Seo Jae-seon), separated and established the Ami Parish in August 1969 (the Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia also records the division of Ami Church in August 1969), and starting with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in June 1972, the Young Catholic Workers (J.O.C.), the Olive Association, the Joseph Association and others were launched in 1975.

[Since the 1980s] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the 9 pastor, Father Lee Yeong-sik, expanded the Seongmo Kindergarten in October 1982, and the 10 pastor, Father Lee Si-chan, carried out a major church renovation in 1985 and founded the 608 Curia (now the 632 Curia) in May 1986. The 13 pastor, Father Wang Yeong-su, founded the 631 Curia in March 1995 and completed a new rectory in November of the same year. From February 1997 to October 2002, Fathers Yun Gi-seon and Bang Bu-eok of the Society of the Apostolic St. John, which had entered Korea in 1997, served as pastors, focusing on strengthening community spirit and revitalizing family pastoral care.

[Church strength and jurisdiction] The church strength recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is 1,780 in 1960, 1,999 in 1963, 2,595 in 1969, 1,999 in 1973, 2,557 in 1979, 2,772 in 1983, 3,405 in 1989, 3,869 in 1993, 4,081 in 1999, and 4,419 in 2003. The jurisdiction is recorded as all of Chojang-dong, Toseong-dong, Bumin-dong, Chungmu-dong and Nambumin-1-dong, and parts of Ami-dong 1-ga and 2-ga. The Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia notes that from the 1990s depopulation of the city center reduced the population and number of faithful in the jurisdiction, and states that as of 2013, under the Lay Apostolate Council there are groups such as the Andrew Association, the Apostolic Association, the Yeondo Association, the Elizabeth Association and the Marian Association, and the pastoral staff consists of 1 parish priest, 2 sisters and 1 office manager.

[Successive pastors] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the pastors were the first, Joachim Werner (1959.10–1960.10), the 2, Daniel Ji Hak-sun (1962.3–1965.5), the 3, John Kim Jin-ha (1965.5–1966.10), interim Paul Lee Cheol-hui (1966.10–12), the 4, Balthasar Jang Ju-min (1966.12–1969.4), the 5, Joseph Guillermo (1969.4–1971.5), the 6, Joseph Jeong Jae-seok (1971.5–1972.11), the 7, Alberto Jeong In-sik (1972.11–1976.11), the 8, Gregory Kim Yu-jae (1976.11–1981.2), the 9, Higino Lee Yeong-sik (1981.2–1984.1), the 10, Daniel Lee Si-chan (1984.1–1986.9), the 11, Pius Ham Yeong-sang (1986.9–1988.2), the 12, James Heo Seong (1988.2–1991.2), the 13, Francis Xavier Wang Yeong-su (1991.2–1996.2), the 14, Peter Jo Ok-jin (1996.2–1997.2), the 15, Maria Joseph Yun Gi-seon (1997.2–2002.1), the 16, John Bang Bu-eok (2002.1–10), and the 17, Matthias Lee Gi-hwan (2002.10–).

Architecture and space

According to the Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia “Chojang Church” (building entry), the church is a modernist-style reinforced concrete building finished on the exterior with water-based paint. Because Busan’s modernist-style churches were built on sites secured in the existing urban area formed by the influx of refugees after the 6–25 War, they are all located in densely populated residential areas, and Chojang Church also stands on a cramped lot.

In 1961, the 2 pastor, Father Ji Hak-sun, organized a church construction committee and commissioned the design to Father Albin, the architect and painter of Waegwan Abbey. Construction began in September 1962 and was completed and blessed after 1 year(s). Afterwards, the bell tower and annex were expanded in 1965, a catechism classroom in July 1975, and the kindergarten in February 1983, and a major renovation was carried out in 1985, but the church is said to retain its original form.

It is composed in a free arrangement and floor-plan form, showing a modified arrangement for the active participation of the faithful announced at the 2 Vatican Council. It is a 3-story above-ground building with a site area of about 2,355.99㎡, a total floor area of 1,313.88㎡ and a building area of 548.82㎡. The facade has one entrance in the center and a tall vertical window above, forming a vertical facade, the plan is non-geometric and the roof is pitched. There is an office wing on the side and a storage shed at the front, so that 3 buildings altogether form a block. The interior walls and ceiling are finished with undecorated white paint and, with many openings, the illuminance is sufficient so that no artificial lighting is needed during the day.

The Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia (institution entry on Chojang Church) states that as of 2013, the site is about 2,565㎡ and the building area including the church, rectory and convent is about 2,522㎡. The area figures in the two entries differ because their criteria differ.

Related places and people

• Father Albin: the architect of Waegwan Abbey who designed Chojang Church. The Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia states that he left 122 church designs, including parishes, Catholic mission chapels and chapel halls, and is regarded as having laid the foundation for Korean Catholic church architecture, with works remaining in Busan such as Haeundae Church, Beomil Church, Gupo Church and the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters Church.
• Ami Church: the church separated and established from Chojang Parish in August 1969 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Father Ji Hak-sun: the 2 pastor of Chojang Parish who organized the church construction committee and built the church (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Chojang Parish”. Background and process of foundation, construction and dedication of the church, successive pastors, church strength, founding of groups and division.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/5989
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia “Chojang Church” (institution). Purpose and changes of foundation, foundation date, division of Ami Church, status in 2013.
   https://www.grandculture.net/busan/toc/GC04215976
3. Academy of Korean Studies, Busan History and Culture Encyclopedia “Chojang Church” (building). Designer, architectural style and scale, history of expansion and renovation, evaluation of Father Albin.
   https://www.grandculture.net/busan/toc/GC04202633