Apgujeong 1-dong Church

Overview

Apgujeong1-dong Church is a parish belonging to the No. 11 Gangnam District of the Dongseoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, and was established on February 18, 1999 after separating from Apgujeong Church. Its name at the time of establishment was Apgujeong2-dong Church, and it was changed to Apgujeong1-dong Church on September 21, 2001. Its patron is the ‘Ascension of the Lord’.

History

[Establishment] According to the parish overview on the parish homepage, Apgujeong1-dong Church is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and was established on February 18, 1999 after separating from Apgujeong Church (official letter No. 99-9 from the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Seoul). The parish name at the time of establishment was Apgujeong2-dong Church, and it was changed to Apgujeong1-dong Church on September 21, 2001 (official letter No. General Affairs-01-58-177 from the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Seoul). The first parish building used the 5 and 6 floors of the ICL (Bescon) Building at 590 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The chronology records that in February 1999 it separated from Apgujeong Church and Apgujeong2-dong Church was established, and the parish’s first Mass was offered in March of the same year.

[First Pastor and First Mass] The first pastor, Father So Won-seok (Gabriel), came from Gahoe-dong Parish and was appointed on March 2, 1999. The parish’s founding first Mass was offered on March 7, 1999, attended by 250 people, and on March 5, 2000 the 1 anniversary Mass for the parish founding was celebrated. The chronology records that in March 2000, together with the 1 anniversary Mass for the founding, the site for the church building was purchased, in April of the same year the first pastoral council was founded (chairman Joseph So Byeong-hui), and in November official permission for the construction of the church building was obtained from the Gangnam District Office.

[Construction of the Church Building] Construction began on February 19, 2001, and on October 21, 2001 a thanksgiving Mass for the raising of the roof frame of the new church building was offered at the present parish site. The construction of the church building, prepared together with the establishment of the parish, led after about 15 months of work to the Mass for entering the new church building on May 26, 2002, and on May 23, 2004 the dedication Mass for the church building was celebrated with Cardinal Nicholas Jeong Jin-seok, Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Seoul, presiding.

[Successive Pastors] With the arrival of the 2 pastor, Father Jeong Byeong-jo (Peter), in September 2004, Father So Won-seok left, and in November of the same year Father Han Jeong-su (Peter) arrived as the parish’s first assistant priest. The 3 pastor, Father Park Sang-su (Paul), arrived in February 2009, the 4 pastor, Father Bae Gap-jin (Peter), arrived in February 2014, the 5 pastor, Father Lee Seung-chan (Andrew), arrived in February 2019, and in February 2024, as the 6 pastor, Father Ji Yeong-hyeon (Simon) arrived, Father Lee Seung-chan left.

[Convent and Groups] In February 2006 a convent entered the parish (Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help). In August 2005 the convent building had been purchased. According to the chronology, the first superior was Sister Carolina Jo, the 2 superior, Sister Matheo Kim, arrived in February 2009, and the 3 superior, Sister Pascal Kim, arrived in February 2012. The pastoral council was founded on April 23, 2000, and it is introduced that the first chairman Joseph So Byeong-hui served for about 5 years, and thereafter Paul Im Hak-eon, Thomas Seo Jong-mun, David Lee Gyeong-pyo, Thomas Park Jun-yong, Matthew Park Su-ung, and Peter Kang Byeong-cheon followed, with the 8 chairman Andrew Seo Chang-u serving as president.

[Major Chronology] Recorded are the change of the parish name in September 2001, the launch ceremony of the Emmaus (neighborhood patrol) volunteer team in August 2003 (25 members), the first dispatch of lay missionaries in March 2008, the founding of the Vocation Support Association in June 2009, the publication of the parish 10-year history photo book in June 2010, the opening of the parish homepage in January 2011, the blessing ceremony of the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel in February 2018, the blessing ceremony of the parish patron ‘Ascension of the Lord’ sacred image in May 2018 (on the 1-floor lobby wall), and the blessing ceremony of the Statue of the Risen Jesus (He has risen) in May 2015. In 2019, the parish marked the 20th anniversary of its establishment, and in November of that year made a pilgrimage of all parishioners to Sinri Shrine to commemorate the 20th anniversary. In 2022, there were the parish synod opening Mass on February 20 and the closing Mass on March 27.

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The parish overview introduces its jurisdiction as Hyundai Apartments in Apgujeong1-dong and part of Sinsa-dong, with a land area of 763.10㎡ and a total floor area of 1,353.27㎡ on 4 above-ground floors and 1,412.53㎡ on 3 basement floors. It is listed as 6 districts and 54 subdistricts (with 7 district separate), 1,694 households and 4,232 persons. The online directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists its diocese as the Archdiocese of Seoul, its region/district as No. 11 Gangnam District of the Dongseoul Region, its establishment date as 1999.02.18, and its patron as the Ascension of the Lord.

Related Places and People

• Apgujeong Church: It is the mother parish from which Apgujeong1-dong Church (then Apgujeong2-dong Church) was separated in 1999.
• Father So Won-seok (Gabriel): He is the first parish priest.
• Cardinal Nicholas Jeong Jin-seok: He is the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Seoul who presided at the church dedication Mass on May 23, 2004.

References and Sources

1. Apgujeong1-dong Church, “Parish Overview”. Background of the establishment, change of name, first parish building, process of church construction, successive pastors, pastoral council, jurisdiction and size.
   http://www.ap1.or.kr/summary.php
2. Apgujeong1-dong Church, “History”. Major annual events from 1999 to the present and arrivals and departures of priests and sisters.
   http://www.ap1.or.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=history
3. Online Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “Apgujeong1-dong”. Affiliated diocese and district, date of establishment, patron.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000181&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011