Cathedral of the Central Diocese

Overview

The Jeonju Jungang Cathedral is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Jeonju on Paldal-ro in Wansan-gu, Jeonju. Established on November 1, 1947, the present church was completed in 1956 and became the cathedral parish of the diocese from 1957 the following year. In April 2026, the Korea Heritage Service announced its registration as a National Registered Cultural Heritage.

History

According to the Jeonju Diocese parish guide, the founding date of Jungang Parish is November 1, 1947, and its patron is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Catholic Times reports that construction of the church began as the number of local believers grew in the 1950s, was completed in 1956, and was designated as the diocesan cathedral the following year. In a January 2026 press release, the City of Jeonju stated that the church, completed in 1956, has continued as the cathedral parish of the Diocese of Jeonju from 1957, succeeding Jeondong Church.

The diocesan history records of the Diocese of Jeonju describe the background of the cathedral designation as follows. The Jeonju Apostolic Prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate on January 21, 1957, and Father Kim Hyeon-bae was appointed bishop on January 26, and Bishop Kim Hyeon-bae held his episcopal ordination at Jungang Church on May 21, 1957, and designated that church as the “cathedral parish.” The same source explains that since the time of the vicariate the head of the diocese had been using the Jeondong Parish rectory.

Yonhap News, citing the Korea Heritage Service, reported that Jungang Church in Jeonju, built in 1956, maintains its status to the present as the first cathedral of an autonomous diocese in Korea. The Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Jeonju said that the church is a symbolic space associated with the human rights and democratization movements since the 1960s, as well as for its architectural value. The City of Jeonju stated that once the church is finally registered as a National Registered Cultural Heritage, it will establish a comprehensive maintenance plan in consultation with the Korea Heritage Service.

Architecture and Space

According to the Catholic Times and Yonhap News, the interior of the church has no columns and secures a spacious Mass area by using a distinctive wooden truss (roof frame) in the upper part of the roof. The Korea Heritage Service views this as a structural feature showing the technical level of the time and as distinguishing it from other previously registered church buildings. The church is also recognized as having high value because architect Kim Seong-geun, the first president of the Jeonbuk Chapter of the Korea Institute of Registered Architects, is confirmed to have participated in the design and because the original design drawings survive.

According to a Diocese of Jeonju press release, the church building consists of pile foundations and double-strut techniques. It stated that 7 sheets of design drawings were reproduced on Jeonju hanji by the Hanji Industry Support Center of the Jeonju Korean Traditional Culture Center in February 2025. These drawings have been preserved until now and are evaluated as having outstanding value as documentary heritage.

The distinctive Gothic-style architectural structure was recognized for its value in church and architectural history and was registered in 2023 as Jeollabuk-do Registered Cultural Property No. 9. On January 5, 2026, the Korea Heritage Service gave public notice of the church as a National Registered Cultural Heritage and stated that it would collect public comments for 30 days, and announced the registration on April 6. The Korea Heritage Service recommended the wooden roof truss, the brick masonry on the upper part of the bell tower, the original windows and entrance doors retaining their appearance at the time of construction, and the washed artificial-stone finish as essential elements to be preserved, and Yonhap News reported that 4 major structures were designated as essential preservation elements. The parish has worked toward registration as a National Registered Cultural Heritage, including completing property registration and holding a symposium.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

Jungang Church belongs to the 1 deanery of the Diocese of Jeonju and has jurisdiction over Seonosong-dong and Jinbuk-dong in Jeonju, parts of Inhu 1 and 2, Taepyeong-dong, Jungnosong-dong, Gosa-dong, Gyeongwon-dong, and parts of Jungang-dong. The Diocese of Jeonju was established as a prefecture on April 13, 1937, became a vicariate in 1957, and was elevated to a diocese in 1962. The diocesan history explains that Jungang Church became the cathedral parish after a period when Jeondong Church was used as the residence of the head of the diocese.

Related Places and People

• Jeondong Church: The head of the diocese had used its rectory since the time of the vicariate, and from 1957 Jungang Church succeeded it as the cathedral parish.
• Bishop Kim Hyeon-bae: As head of the Diocese of Jeonju, he held his ordination at Jungang Church on May 21, 1957, and designated the church as the cathedral parish.
• Architect Kim Seong-geun: The first president of the Jeonbuk Chapter of the Korea Institute of Registered Architects, he is confirmed to have participated in the design of the church.

References and Sources

1. Catholic Diocese of Jeonju, Parish Guide: Jungang Cathedral Church of the 1 Deanery. The founding date of November 1, 1947, patron, and jurisdiction were confirmed.
   https://www.jcatholic.or.kr/theme/main/pages/churchview.php?intSeq=45&strCategory=1%EC%A7%80%EA%B5%AC
2. Catholic Diocese of Jeonju, History of the Diocese of Jeonju. The ordination of Bishop Kim Hyeon-bae in 1957 and the designation of Jungang Church as the cathedral parish, and the use of the Jeondong Parish rectory by the head of the diocese were confirmed.
   http://www.jcatholic.or.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=pds&page=8&theme=main&wr_id=177
3. Catholic Times, Jungang Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Jeonju to be registered as a National Registered Cultural Heritage (dated January 18, 2026). The completion in 1956, the cathedral designation in 1957, the designer, the wooden truss, the essential preservation elements, and the registration as a Jeollabuk-do Registered Cultural Property in 2023 were confirmed.
   https://www.jcatholic.or.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=history_01&theme=interbro&wr_id=1992
4. Yonhap News, Unique structure holding 70 years of history… Jeonju Jungang Church becomes a Registered Cultural Heritage (April 6, 2026). The registration as a National Registered Cultural Heritage and the description as the first cathedral of an autonomous diocese in Korea, and the essential preservation elements were confirmed.
   https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260406020200005
5. City of Jeonju, Jeonju Jungang Church 7 National Registered Cultural Heritage advance notice (press release dated January 7, 2026). The completion in 1956, the cathedral parish status from 1957, the design participants and drawings, and the policy to establish a comprehensive maintenance plan were confirmed.
   https://daum.jeonju.go.kr/main/menu?bwrite_id=4477&do=view&gc=1018WXIQ
6. Catholic Times, Design drawings of Jeonju Jungang Cathedral Church reborn on Jeonju hanji (dated March 2, 2025). The reproduction of the design drawings and the construction techniques were confirmed.
   https://www.jcatholic.or.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=history_01&theme=interbro&wr_id=1955