Pyongchon Mission Station

History & origins

The exact first establishment year of the Pyeongchon community is not fixed here because the preferred sources checked for this review do not establish it securely. They do show, however, that when the Jinan Catholic Farmers’ Association council was formed in December 1979, branches were organized at the Pyeongchon, Sotosil, and Eoeun-dong mission stations. This confirms the existence of a continuing Catholic community at Pyeongchon by that period.

In September 1982, in response to a request from Pyeongchon Catholics for a new church, Jinan Parish organized a construction committee. About 180 pyeong of land was secured in January of the following year, construction began in May, and a church of about 75 pyeong was completed and dedicated in November of the next year. The record shows a well-organized mission-station community capable of establishing its own worship space in the 1980s.

Today the Diocese of Jeonju lists Pyeongchon as “not operating.” The community clearly changed substantially between the period of construction and the present, but the sources reviewed do not adequately establish when or why that transition occurred. Its history is therefore best recorded by distinguishing the verified community activities and church construction from its present inactive status.