Apgujeong-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Apgujeong-dong Church is a parish belonging to the 11 Gangnam District of the East Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. On May 31, 1979, it was elevated from a Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Cheongdam-dong Parish to a parish, and its patron is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, its jurisdiction covers Sinsa-dong and parts of Apgujeong-dong.

History

[Apgujeong Catholic Mission Chapel] The area under the jurisdiction of Apgujeong-dong Parish was originally a typical farming-oriented village, but development began in the early 1970 with the start of reclamation work, and when Hyundai Apartments were completed at the end of 1975, the number of the faithful also grew. The faithful of Cheongdam-dong Parish held a ‘meeting of promoters for establishing a mission chapel’ in March 1978 and discussed establishing the Apgujeong Catholic mission chapel, and in April set up a temporary mission chapel on the 1 floor of the Taepyeong Securities building in the Hyundai Apartment shopping arcade. As it was used as a securities company on weekdays, causing much inconvenience, the mission chapel was moved in June of that year to the 3 floor of the building at 253-2 Apgujeong-dong. From early the following year, 2 Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help were dispatched to assist in the pastoral care of the mission chapel, and the faithful organized various devotional groups.

[Elevation to Parish] Centered on the faithful of the mission chapel, the movement for elevation to a parish gained full momentum, and a temporary rectory was prepared in May 1979, and the Archdiocese of Seoul, considering the development of the Gangnam area and the growth of the Church, decided to establish a parish, and in May of that year the Apgujeong Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish. The first pastor, Father Raphael Park Shin-eon, used the mission chapel building as the church while striving to foster devotion, so the activities of the Marian Association and the Legion of Mary became active, and in July 1979 he published 〈Apgujeong Parish Bulletin〉.

[Building the Church] As the number of the faithful grew, the pastoral council discussed building a church in December 1979, and in January 1980 purchased 600 pyeong of land at the site of the present church and additionally purchased 150 pyeong in October. Construction began in July of the following year, and in June 1982 a church with 1 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors (1,070 pyeong) was completed and a blessing ceremony was held.

[Later Development] The 2th pastor, Father Paul Choi Seok-ho, carried out missionary activities every Wednesday from March 1983 with the sisters of the Daughters of St. Paul, sold the old church in July of the same year, and in February 1985 purchased 121 pyeong of land again. In March of the following year he founded the parish newsletter and in February 1987 organized the dialogue-style catechesis study group ‘Patrician Society.’ The 4th pastor, Father Paul Na Won-gyun, carried out a major renovation of the church from August 1993 to February of the following year.

[Division] In March 1999, in accordance with the pastoral policy of the diocese, Apgujeong 2-dong Parish was separated, transferring parish registers of 969 households and 3,000 persons, and at the same time transferring parish registers of 925 households and 2,700 persons to Nonhyeon 2-dong Parish (now Hakdong). The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that Apgujeong-dong Parish, whose number of the faithful fell sharply due to the division into two parishes, was striving for internal consolidation.

[Church Strength and Successive Pastors] The numbers of the faithful in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are 951 persons in 1979, 5,324 persons in 1984, 10,347 persons in 1989, 9,965 persons in 1994, and 3,585 persons in 1999. The successive pastors are recorded as the first, Raphael Park Shin-eon (1979. 5~1982. 8), the 2th, Paul Choi Seok-ho (1982. 8~1987. 8), the 3th, Guglielmo Kim Deuk-gwon (1987. 8~1992. 9), the 4th, Paul Na Won-gyun (1992. 9~1997. 9), the 5th, Raimundo Lee Jong-nam (1997. 9~1999. 3), and the 6th, Thaddeus Lee Gi-rak (1999. 3~).

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

In the online directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, it is listed with foundation date 1979.05.31, patron Sacred Heart of Jesus, religious community Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and affiliation with the 11 Gangnam District of the East Seoul Region.

Related Places and People

• Cheongdam-dong Parish: The mother parish to which the Apgujeong Catholic mission chapel belonged.
• Apgujeong 2-dong Parish: Separated in March 1999.
• Nonhyeon 2-dong Parish (now Hakdong): Received parish registers of 925 households and 2,700 persons in March 1999.

References and Sources

1. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Apgujeong-dong Parish.” Elevated on May 31, 1979 from a Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Cheongdam-dong Parish, patron Sacred Heart of Jesus, jurisdiction, process of establishing the Apgujeong mission chapel, blessing of the church in 1982, separation of Apgujeong 2-dong and Nonhyeon 2-dong Parishes in 1999, church strength, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/4243
2. Online directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “Apgujeong-dong.” Affiliated diocese and district (11 Gangnam District of the East Seoul Region), foundation date 1979.05.31, religious community (Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help), patron Sacred Heart of Jesus.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000180&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011