Seorak-dong Catholic Church

History & origins

The Seorak-dong Catholic community began as a quasi-parish in July 1981, as the growth of the Seoraksan tourist area created a need for an independent pastoral unit. The Diocese of Chuncheon chronology records the establishment of the Seorak-dong quasi-parish at that time, while the parish history notes that the faithful organized a pastoral council and developed the structures of a parish community. Its territory then included all of Seorak-dong, Domun and Jangjaeteo, and part of Daepo-dong, with about 300 Catholics.

On April 9, 1984, Seorak-dong was elevated to full parish status. In May of the same year, Mulchi Mission Station, which had belonged to Gyodong Parish, was transferred to Seorak-dong Parish, widening its pastoral responsibility. This was part of the diocese's effort to establish a stable parish community amid the growth of both visitors and permanent residents around Seoraksan.

Later changes in the local tourism environment also affected the size of the community. The diocesan history records that from the latter half of the 1990s, the tourist commercial district within the parish territory declined and the number of Catholics also decreased. The history of Seorak-dong Parish thus shows how a community formed during the growth of a major tourist area changed along with shifts in the local population and patterns of daily life.