Gunggeunjeong Mission

History & origins

The need for a mission station in Gunggeunjeong arose after the family of Park Jeong-tak moved there from the Gilcheon mission community and local residents gradually entered the Catholic faith. A community formed around its first leader, Park Seong-muk Gaspar, and efforts began to provide a separate building for worship. The project therefore grew from the needs and participation of local Catholics rather than simply from a facility imposed by the parish.

The new mission building was constructed largely through the community's own resources rather than direct parish support. The local leader donated land, income earned from forestry work connected with Seoknamsa was contributed, and parishioners provided volunteer labor; a Catholic known as Mun Jacob served as a carpenter. The completed building was blessed on March 19, 1957, in a ceremony presided over by Father Kim Yeong-je John.

After decades of use, the first major renovation since construction took place in 2001. A statue of the Virgin Mary was installed, the roof and interior were repaired, and a blessing Mass was celebrated on June 29 of that year. The history of Gunggeunjeong Mission Station thus preserves the story of a small rural Catholic community that contributed land, labor, and skills to create its own sacred space and later renewed it so that the place could continue to serve the faith community.