Cheonggu Catholic Church

Overview

Cheonggu Church is a parish belonging to Jung-gu–Yongsan District No. 1 in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, and its patron saint is Saint James. On September 4, 2003, it was separated from Sindang-dong Parish and established as ‘Sindang 6-dong Church,’ changed its name to ‘Cheonggu Church’ on June 1, 2006, and celebrated the dedication Mass for the new church building on May 6, 2007.

History

〔Establishment〕 The parish history in the Cheonggu Church guide records the establishment of ‘Sindang 6-dong Church’ on September 4, 2003 and the celebration of the first Mass on September 21 of the same year. The Catholic Times reported that this parish was separated and established from Sindang-dong Parish in September 2003. The parish history on the Sindang-dong Church website records the ‘division of Sindang 6-dong Church (now Cheonggu Church)’ on September 16, 2003, stating that parts of Sindang 4-dong, Sindang 5-dong, and Sindang 6-dong under the jurisdiction of Sindang-dong Parish were divided to form Sindang 6-dong Parish. The establishment date is given differently as September 4, 2003 in the Cheonggu Church guide and in the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, and as September 16 in the division record on the Sindang-dong Church website.

〔Change of name (2006)〕 According to the Cheonggu Church guide, the name was changed to ‘Cheonggu Church’ on June 1, 2006. The Catholic Times also notes that in June 2006 the parish name was changed from Sindang 6-dong to Cheonggu.

〔Construction and dedication of the new church (2006–2007)〕 According to the Catholic Times (May 2007), Cheonggu Parish (pastor Father Kim Jung-gwang) was scheduled to hold the dedication ceremony for the new church on May 6, 2007 at 10 a.m. at 52-276, Sindang 6-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, presided over by Archbishop Cardinal Jung Jin-seok. Construction of the new church began in January 2006 and was completed in 1 year(s) and 4 months. The Cheonggu Church guide records May 6, 2007 as the date of the dedication Mass for the new church building.

〔2020s〕 The chronology in the guide records a parish fellowship day on June 15, 2024, a walking pilgrimage of all parishioners to Saenamteo Shrine on September 6, 2025, and an overseas parish pilgrimage to Nagasaki, Japan on March 2, 2026. The guide gives the 2026 pastoral guideline for Cheonggu Parish as “For a missionary synodal Church, together with young people.”

〔Successive pastors〕 The service record given in the Cheonggu Church guide is as follows. 1 Pastor Pascal Kim Jung-gwang (September 4, 2003–September 2, 2008), 2 Pastor Augustine Ham Se-woong (September 2, 2008–August 28, 2012), 3 Pastor Benedict Kang Jeong-ui (August 28, 2012–August 28, 2017), 4 Pastor Paul Go Gyeong-hwan (August 28, 2017–August 30, 2022), 5 Pastor Joseph Lee Ho-seop (August 30, 2022–).

Architecture and Space

According to the Catholic Times, the new church has a site area of 300.58 pyeong, a building area of 159.85 pyeong, a total floor area of 628.7 pyeong, with 1 basement floor(s) and 4 above-ground floors, equipped with catechesis rooms, a gathering hall, the church sanctuary, classrooms, and the rectory.

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The Cheonggu Church guide lists its affiliation as District 1 in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, its jurisdictional area as Cheonggu-dong, Sindang 5-dong, and Donghwa-dong, and the number of faithful as 2,004 people (803 households). The Catholic Times (2007) gave its then jurisdictional area as parts of Sindang 4-dong and Sindang 6-dong. The online address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists its affiliation as Jung-gu–Yongsan District No. 1 in the Central Seoul Region, the number of faithful as 2,020, the number of Catholic mission chapels as 0, and the sisters’ congregation as the Sisters of Inbo Seongche.

Related Places and People

• Sindang-dong Church: the parish from which Cheonggu Church (Sindang 6-dong Church) was separated in 2003 (Catholic Times, parish history of Sindang-dong Church).
• Saenamteo Shrine: recorded as the destination of the walking pilgrimage of all Cheonggu Church parishioners on September 6, 2025 (Cheonggu Church guide).
• Nagasaki, Japan: recorded as the destination of the overseas parish pilgrimage on March 2, 2026 (Cheonggu Church guide).

References and Sources

1. Cheonggu Church, “Cheonggu Church Guide” (guide for the welcome gathering for newly transferred parishioners in March 2026). Establishment date, name change, dedication of the new church building, patron saint, jurisdiction, successive pastors, recent chronology.
   https://cdn.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v2/63b9ac5186da43f4ed1fca8b995066190f4b9208.pdf
2. Catholic Times, “Dedication of the New Church of Cheonggu Parish in Seoul” (2007.5). Dedication ceremony for the new church, size, construction period, separation from Sindang-dong Parish and name change.
   https://www.catholictimes.org/article/200705060166075
3. Sindang-dong Church website, parish history. Division of Sindang 6-dong Church (now Cheonggu Church) on September 16, 2003 and the divided jurisdictional area.
   http://www.sohwateresia.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about_2.php
4. Online address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “Cheonggu.” Affiliated district, establishment date, patron saint, number of faithful, sisters’ congregation.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000232&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011