Hangdong Church

Overview

Hangdong Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul located in Hang-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. It belongs to the 16 Guro District of the Seoseoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul and was newly established on February 1, 2023, separated from Oryu-dong Parish. The Archdiocese of Seoul’s parish establishment notice records its name as ‘Hangdong Catholic Church’ and sets its jurisdiction at that time as all of Hang-dong and part of Oryu 2-dong. At the time of establishment, the population under its administrative jurisdiction was recorded as 20,059 people, with 908 faithful and 367 households of the faithful.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea’s “Catholic Directory of Korea” records the establishment date of Hangdong Parish as February 1, 2023, and gives its patron saint as Mary, Mother of God. Its current address is Yeondong-ro 170, Guro-gu, Seoul, with the lot-number address of Hang-dong 241-5. As verified in September 2026, the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists Father Simon Yi Seung-hwa as pastor.

Hangdong Parish was reported as the 233th parish established in the Archdiocese of Seoul. As its own church building was not yet completed at the time of establishment, it celebrated Mass using the facilities of its mother church, Oryu-dong Church, and began construction of a new church building in February 2024, about 1 year after the parish was established. The current church building was completed in 2025 and was dedicated on May 18 of the same year with Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taek of Seoul presiding.

History

The direct history of Hangdong Parish begins with the parish division of the Archdiocese of Seoul in 2023. Along with the regular personnel appointments for the first half of 2023, the Archdiocese of Seoul announced new parishes and newly established Hangdong Parish effective February 1, 2023, separating the Hang-dong area from Oryu-dong Parish. At that time, all of Hang-dong and part of Oryu 2-dong were incorporated into the jurisdiction of the new parish, and Hangdong Parish came to belong to the 16 Guro District of the Seoseoul Region. In the same appointments, Father Clemens Park Myeong-geun was appointed as the first pastor.

The parish did not have an independent church building immediately after its establishment. According to a report by the Catholic Times in February 2024, the Hangdong Parish community was celebrating Mass at that time at its mother church, Oryu-dong Church. The site for the new church building was set at Hang-dong 241-5, Guro-gu, Seoul, and in January 2024 the Guro District Office issued a notice designating a safety-inspection agency in connection with the ‘New Construction of Hangdong Church of the Archdiocese of Seoul’ on that site.

Building records based on primary building-administration data show the building permit date as September 25, 2023, the start of construction as February 2, 2024, and the approval for use as February 11, 2025. The official groundbreaking ceremony with the parish community was held on February 3, 2024. The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Bishop Benedict Son Hee-song, then Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Seoul and Episcopal Vicar for the Seoseoul Region, and was attended by the first pastor, Father Park Myeong-geun, parishioners, and members of the mother parish, Oryu-dong Parish.

During construction of the church building, rather than covering the cost from its own funds alone, the parish sought the cooperation of many communities within the diocese. The Catholic Times reported that Father Park Myeong-geun and pastoral council members conducted fundraising for the church construction in 12 parishes of the Archdiocese of Seoul. During construction, the faithful continued praying with the goal of offering 100 million decades of the Rosary, and there were also donations from Koreans living abroad.

The new church building was completed in early 2025 and was dedicated with Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taek presiding on May 18, 2025. The Catholic Peace Times introduced Hangdong Parish at the time as the 233th parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul, separated from Oryu-dong Parish in February 2023, and reported that it had secured a new church building just over 2 years after its establishment.

After the dedication of the new church building, Hangdong Parish developed not only liturgical and catechetical activities but also activities connected with the local community. In 2025, it was selected for the Parish Social Welfare Grant Program of the Seoul Catholic Social Welfare Foundation and ran a meal-support program for local children. The annual report of the Seoul Catholic Social Welfare Foundation records that 500 million won was granted to Hangdong Parish’s ‘Children’s Cafeteria—A Healthy Meal for Children!’ program. The Catholic Times reported that in the summer of the same year a ‘Children’s Cafeteria’ offering free lunch to local elementary-school children was operated in the meeting room on the 1 floor of Hangdong Church.

Architecture and Space

The current Hangdong Church is a modern church building with 1 basement floor and 4 above-ground floors. At the church dedication in 2025, church media introduced it as having a site area of 960.2㎡, a building area of 379.53㎡, and a total floor area of 1,663.21㎡. By contrast, the approval-for-use record based on primary data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s building administration system shows a site area of 960.20㎡, a building area of 406.92㎡, and a total floor area of 1,704.37㎡. As the figures in the two sources differ, there may have been differences between the design and reporting stage and the final approved drawings or in the scope of area calculation. It is therefore safest to use area figures with attention to each source’s basis. According to building-administration data, the main structure is reinforced concrete.

The Catholic Times and the Catholic Peace Times described the spatial layout of the church building as an underground parking garage, offices and a meeting room on the 1 floor, a main sanctuary on the 2 floor, and catechetical classrooms and a rectory on the upper level. Liturgical space and pastoral and educational space are arranged in a single building, so that the parish’s liturgical, administrative, educational, and community functions can be carried out together on a relatively small site.

The most clearly identifiable feature of the building’s exterior is its boat-inspired form. Church media at the time of the dedication explained that the entire building was designed in the shape of a boat, drawing on the imagery of ‘hang (航),’ meaning voyage, in the parish name ‘Hang-dong (航洞).’ This was used as a design concept defining the church’s overall exterior rather than as a mere decorative element.

Inside and outside the church building, works by several Catholic artists have been installed. Sculptor Joseph Han Jin-seop created the altar, ambo, holy-water fonts, tabernacle, and rooftop cross. Han Jin-seop is also known as the creator of the statue of Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon installed on the exterior wall of Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. John the Apostle Han Chang-gyu created the crucifix and the statue of the Virgin Mary, and Fra Angelico Seon Jong-hun created the 14 Stations of the Cross paintings. Michael Park Jeong-seok participated in creating the stained glass for the church building.

These works of sacred art show that Hangdong Church was not completed merely as a functional worship space, but that key elements of liturgy and devotion—the altar and tabernacle, crucifix, statue of the Virgin Mary, Stations of the Cross, and stained glass—were planned together at the architectural stage. However, as reliable published sources do not clearly identify the responsible architect or firm for the church as a whole, this article does not state them arbitrarily.

Religious Significance and Context for Visitors

The patron saint of Hangdong Church is Mary, Mother of God. This is stated in the official directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea. A patron saint means a guardian saint or title of faith whom a parish community commemorates in a special way in its liturgy and devotional life, and Hangdong Parish honors Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, as its patron under the title ‘Mother of God.’

As a very young parish established in 2023 and dedicating its current church building in 2025, Hangdong Parish is closer to an example showing how a community of the faithful in a new residential area forms and settles as an independent parish than to a church preserving a long historical heritage. At its establishment, all of Hang-dong and part of Oryu 2-dong were designated as its parish jurisdiction, and before its church building was constructed it used the facilities of Oryu-dong Church. After its independent church building was completed, it became able to carry out liturgical, catechetical, pastoral, and community activities in its own space.

The construction process itself occupies an important part of the parish’s faith history. Visiting many parishes within the diocese to raise funds, the faithful’s offering of 100 million decades of the Rosary, and continued support from other regions and from abroad show that the church building was pursued through the community’s prayer and cooperation rather than as a mere construction project.

When visiting, one can first see the boat-shaped exterior, the red-brick finish, and the rooftop cross, and inside the church building one can see sacred art by different artists in a single space: the altar, ambo, holy-water fonts, and tabernacle by Han Jin-seop; the crucifix and statue of the Virgin Mary by Han Chang-gyu; the Stations of the Cross by Seon Jong-hun; and the stained glass by Park Jeong-seok. Most of these works were installed around the completion and dedication of the new church building in 2025.

Hangdong Church is not a tourist facility but a parish where actual liturgies and pastoral ministry take place, so even if the purpose of a visit is to see its architecture and sacred art, visitors should give priority to Mass, the sacraments, and faithful at prayer. As Mass times may change according to the pastoral schedule, it is advisable to check the latest information from the parish or from the official Catholic directory or Good News just before visiting.

Related Places and People

Oryu-dong Church is the mother church of Hangdong Parish. The Archdiocese of Seoul’s 2023 parish-establishment document states that Hangdong Parish was separated from Oryu-dong Parish. Before its independent church building was prepared, Hangdong Parish celebrated Mass at Oryu-dong Church.

Hang-dong 241-5 is the lot-number address where Hangdong Church now stands. Its street address is Yeondong-ro 170, Guro-gu, Seoul. The 2024 notice of the Guro District Office also specifies the new construction of Hangdong Church at the same lot number.

Father Clemens Park Myeong-geun is the first pastor of Hangdong Parish. In the Archdiocese of Seoul’s 2023 personnel appointments, he was appointed from pastor of the Dongdaemun Market quasi-parish to pastor of Hangdong Parish, and he led the organization of the community in the early days of the parish and the construction of the new church building. Father Park Myeong-geun was also pastor at the time of the groundbreaking in 2024 and the dedication in 2025.

Father Simon Yi Seung-hwa is listed as pastor of Hangdong Parish in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea as of September 2026. As pastoral assignments may change with personnel appointments, long-term records should include the reference date together.

Bishop Benedict Son Hee-song presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hangdong Church building on February 3, 2024. In his then capacity as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Seoul and Episcopal Vicar for the Seoseoul Region, he blessed the construction site.

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taek, as Archbishop of Seoul, presided over the dedication of the new Hangdong Church building on May 18, 2025.

The church’s principal sacred art was created by Joseph Han Jin-seop, John the Apostle Han Chang-gyu, Fra Angelico Seon Jong-hun, and Michael Park Jeong-seok. Han Jin-seop produced the altar, ambo, holy-water fonts, tabernacle, and rooftop cross; Han Chang-gyu, the crucifix and the statue of the Virgin Mary; Seon Jong-hun, the 14 Stations of the Cross paintings; and Park Jeong-seok, the stained glass.

Near the church are Hangdong Elementary School and Hangdong Middle School. From the early days of its establishment, the parish recognized as a pastoral characteristic that its jurisdiction had a large population of children and young people. At the groundbreaking ceremony in 2024, parish representatives also noted the large number of students at nearby schools and stated that they aimed for a community growing together with children and youth. This local background is also connected with the parish’s operation of a ‘Children’s Cafeteria’ in 2025.

References and Sources

1. Archdiocese of Seoul, Regular Personnel Appointments for the First Half of 2023 and Parish Establishment Notice
   • Confirms the establishment of Hangdong Parish on February 1, 2023, its separation from Oryu-dong Parish, its jurisdiction, number of faithful and households, and the appointment of Father Park Myeong-geun as first pastor.
   • Public copy: https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Sb0j/d6e1e7dbc832c60089dbffa16c80b9769826d250
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “Catholic Directory of Korea” – Hangdong
   • Confirms affiliated diocese and district, address, contact details, establishment date, patron saint, number of faithful, and current pastor.
   • https://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201008769&gubun=4
3. Catholic Times, “Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Church of Hangdong Parish in Seoul,” February 13, 2024
   • Confirms the groundbreaking ceremony on February 3, 2024, the 233th parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul, temporary Masses at Oryu-dong Church, and the pastoral background related to local children and youth.
   • https://www.catholictimes.org/article/202402130234505
4. Guro District Office, “Notice of Designation of Safety-Inspection Agency (New Construction of Hangdong Church of the Archdiocese of Seoul at Hang-dong 241-5, Guro-gu),” January 24, 2024
   • Confirms the new-construction site and the administrative project name.
   • https://www.guro.go.kr/www/selectBbsNttGosiView.do?bbsNo=663&key=1791&nttNo=42203&pageIndex=1&pageUnit=10&rowNum=6
5. Building Record Based on Primary Open Building Data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport – Hangdong Church of the Archdiocese of Seoul
   • Confirms building-permit date, construction-start date, approval-for-use date, reinforced-concrete structure, and approval-based areas.
   • Source: Open Building Data of the Building Administration System
   • Search page: https://www.sankun.com/site-info/SCUrYz6j2qrBXOLvilipwC3BKilAb1JvsCLtIRa60ZE
6. Catholic Times, “[Congratulations on the Dedication of the New Church] Hangdong Parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul,” May 6, 2025
   • Confirms dedication schedule, spatial layout and reported areas at the time, boat-shaped design, sacred-art artists, construction fundraising, and the offering of 100 million decades of the Rosary.
   • https://www.catholictimes.org/article/20250502500094
7. Catholic Peace Times, “[Dedication of the New Church] Hangdong Parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul,” May 22, 2025
   • Confirms the dedication on May 18, 2025 presided over by Archbishop Chung Soon-taek, the building’s scale and layout, and the sacred artworks and artists.
   • https://news.catholic.or.kr/WZ_NP/section/view.asp?cseq=2&seq=205422&tbcode=SEC02
8. Catholic Times, “Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung’s Encouragement Visit to Hangdong Parish in Seoul,” July 22, 2025
   • Confirms the parish establishment date and the community’s situation after the dedication of the new church building.
   • https://www.catholictimes.org/article/20250718500098
9. Catholic Times, “‘Pilgrims of Hope’: Parish Community Brings Hope to Neighbors – Hangdong Parish’s ‘Children’s Cafeteria’ in the Archdiocese of Seoul,” August 12, 2025
   • Confirms the meal-support activity for local children operated in the meeting room on the 1 floor of Hangdong Church.
   • https://www.catholictimes.org/article/20250808500245
10. Seoul Catholic Social Welfare Foundation, Annual Activity Report for 2025
    • Confirms support details for Hangdong Parish’s children’s cafeteria program and the Parish Social Welfare Grant Program.
    • https://caritasseoul.or.kr/html/dh_board/views/6771
11. Catholic Good News Mobile – Hangdong Parish
    • Cross-checks parish address, phone number, pastor, and latest liturgical information as of 2026.
    • https://maria.catholic.or.kr/mobile/bondang/bondang_view.asp?orgnum=4698