Dongdaemun Catholic Church

Overview

Dongdaemun Church is a church in Sungin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, belonging to the Archdiocese of Seoul. It was established in 1972 after separating from Jongno Church, and honors Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon, priest and martyr, as its patron saint. The address directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea records this church as a parish belonging to Jongno District No. 4 in the Central Seoul Region, and the supervising congregation is the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres.

History

According to the parish history on the Dongdaemun Church website, Dongdaemun Church was established on January 28, 1972 after separating from Jongno Parish. On the same day, the Archdiocese of Seoul announced the establishment of the new Dongdaemun Catholic Church, and under the direction of Father Baek Il-seong of Jongno Church, purchased land and a building owned by a Presbyterian church (land 153.3 pyeong, building 113.8 pyeong). Before the establishment of the parish, the faithful of this area, centered on Changsin-dong, campaigned for the division of a new parish and purchased a building with donations, laying the foundation for the establishment. The history of Jongno Church also states that Dongdaemun Church separated on January 28, 1972. Meanwhile, the address directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea gives the establishment date as January 11, 1972, which differs from the date on the parish website.

The first pastor was Father An Chung-seok (Luke), and the parish annals record his appointment on February 10, 1972. On July 1 of the same year, Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon, priest and martyr, was enshrined as the parish patron saint, and on September 1, 1973, the unveiling ceremony for the patron saint statue was held. The existing building was remodeled and the church was dedicated on March 11, 1973 by Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, and on August 26 of the same year, a branch house of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres was established, with Sister Kim Sun-hui (Joanna) appointed as the first superior.

As the church became too small, land for a new church building was purchased on June 16, 1977 and a groundbreaking ceremony was held, and in September 1977 a new church was built on the site where the old church had been demolished. On July 4, 1979, the new church was dedicated by Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, with 1 basement floor, 4 above-ground floors and a total of 515 pyeong.

On February 13, 1992, the Pyeonghwa Market Catholic mission chapel was newly established under the jurisdiction of the parish, and its dedication ceremony was held on July 22, 1993, and this mission chapel was raised to a quasi-parish on February 6, 1994. On November 25, 2012, an anniversary Mass for the 40 anniversary of the parish establishment was celebrated by Archbishop Yeom Soo-jung, and on December 18, 2022, a Mass for the 50 anniversary of the establishment was offered, celebrated by Bishop Gu Yo-bi.

Religious Significance and Context for Visiting

The patron saint of Dongdaemun Church, Andrew Kim Dae-geon, is the first Korean priest and martyr. On September 7, 1997, for the 25 anniversary of the parish establishment, the parish offered a commemorative Mass celebrated by Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan and published the “Dongdaemun Parish 25-Year History.”

Related Places and People

• Jongno Church: the mother parish from which Dongdaemun Church was separated in 1972
• Pyeonghwa Market Catholic mission chapel (later quasi-parish): a mission chapel newly established in 1992 under the jurisdiction of Dongdaemun Church

References and Sources

1. Dongdaemun Catholic Church, History of Dongdaemun Church. Confirms the separation and establishment from Jongno Parish on January 28, 1972, the first pastor Father An Chung-seok, the dedication of the patron saint, the dedications in 1973 and 1979, the Pyeonghwa Market mission chapel, and the 40 anniversary and 50 anniversary commemorative Masses.
   http://ddmch.or.kr/page/bbs/int_history.php
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory (Dongdaemun). Confirms affiliation with Jongno District No. 4 in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, establishment date of January 11, 1972, patron Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon, priest and martyr, and the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000083&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011
3. Jongno Catholic Church, History of Jongno Church. Confirms the separation of Dongdaemun Church on January 28, 1972 and the purchase from a Presbyterian church (land 153 pyeong, building 113 pyeong).
   http://www.jongnocc.com/html/about/about01.htm?topimg=about
4. Dongdaemun Catholic Church, Patron Saint. Confirms that the patron saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon is the first Korean priest and martyr.
   http://ddmch.or.kr/page/bbs/int_titular.php