Seumusup Catholic Church

History & origins

Smusup Parish began in response to the rapid increase of Catholics under Hyoja-dong Parish as new housing developments and large apartment complexes expanded in Toegye-dong and Seoksa-dong. On September 14, 2002, the Diocese of Chuncheon separated 414 households and 1,174 faithful from Hyoja-dong Parish to establish the new parish. The following day, Bishop John of the Cross Chang Yik presided at the inaugural Mass, celebrated outdoors under a tent. From September 21, the parish began celebrating its regular Masses in a basement space of the Kumho Town commercial building adapted as a temporary church.

The community soon began preparing for a permanent church. While raising construction funds and developing the design, the parish chose a domed form symbolizing eternity and the cosmos, with an interior arranged so that the congregation could participate in the liturgy around the altar as its center. During construction, the biblical phrase “We are the temple of the living God” was inscribed on a main roof beam to express the community’s spiritual intention.

After the church was completed, Bishop Chang Yik presided at its dedication on March 1, 2007. The journey from a temporary worship space to a permanent church and established parish community reflects the interaction between rapid demographic change in southern Chuncheon and the Diocese’s response through the creation of new parishes.