Haebangchon Catholic Church

Overview

Haebangchon Church is a parish belonging to District 1 Jung-gu–Yongsan in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Yongsan-dong 2-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Its patron is the Holy Family, and in 1954 it was established through separation from Huam-dong Parish (then Dongja-dong Parish). Its name at the time of establishment was Haebang-dong Parish, and in 1977 it was changed to Haebangchon Parish.

History

After the Korean War, people returning from evacuation and people who had moved south from the North settled in the Haebangchon area, the population grew rapidly, and there were also many faithful. The faithful organized the Sang-u Association and the Women’s Association and promoted the establishment of a parish. Father Kim Hyo-sin (Matthias) of Dongja-dong Parish (now Huam-dong Parish), which then had jurisdiction over this area, offered 70 man hwan saved in preparation for a parish division as a subsidy and introduced a U.S. 8 Army unit so that building materials could be supported.

Late in 1954, with this subsidy and the proceeds from the sale of relief supplies from Catholic Relief Services (C.R.S.), they purchased a 500-pyeong site in Yongsan-dong 2-ga (the present church site), and in November Father Kim Yeong-geun (Peter) took office and Haebang-dong Parish was established. The date of establishment is recorded in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory as 1954.11.

When Father Jang Geun-sil, the 2 pastor, set up a soup kitchen near the church in May 1959 and began distribution, many people entered the Church. The encyclopedia states that construction of the new Itaewon church began in early 1960 and Itaewon Parish was divided off in August of that year. Around 1977, the parish name was changed from Haebang-dong Parish to Haebangchon Parish. In June 2001, the group home “Eunbitjari” for elderly people without family support was opened in Yongsan 2-ga-dong. In November 2005, the book 《The 50-Year History of Haebangchon Parish》 was published.

Architecture and Space

Father Kim Yeong-geun used the inner room of the house of Park Ui-hwa (Paul) as his residence and temporary church while beginning construction of a new church building and rectory in spring 1955, and from Easter he pitched a tent in the front yard (the present location of the statue of Our Lady) and celebrated Mass. The church was completed in November 1955 and was dedicated in February of the following year in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Noh Gi-nam (Paul). In June 1958, the unveiling ceremony for the statue of Our Lady was held.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new church was held in October 1969, and in June 1970 a church with 2 floors above ground was completed and the dedication ceremony was held in October of that year presided over by Cardinal Kim Su-hwan (Stephen). Expansion work was carried out from August 1975, the dedication ceremony for the expanded church was held in April 1976, and in March 1976 a new convent was built and a formal branch house of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Seoul was established. Expansion and renovation work on the church began in June 1984 and was completed in December, and expansion work on the education hall began in March 1987 and was finished in May.

Related Places and People

• Huam-dong Church: It is the mother parish from which Haebangchon Parish was separated (then Dongja-dong Parish).
• Itaewon Church: It was separated from Haebangchon Parish in 1960–1961.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Haebangchon Parish”. The division and establishment from Huam-dong Parish, the original name at establishment (Haebang-dong) and the renaming in 1977, the circumstances of establishment and the land purchase, the history of new construction and expansion of the church, the division of Itaewon Parish, and the opening of Eunbitjari were confirmed.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/6847
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory, “Haebangchon”. The affiliated district (District 1 Jung-gu–Yongsan), the establishment date 1954.11., and the patron Holy Family were confirmed.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000242&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011