Jangwi 1-dong (Seon) Catholic Church

Overview

The Jangwi1-dong church is a mission parish (Jangwi1-dong (Mission) church) belonging to Seongbuk District No. 4 in the Central Seoul Region of the Seoul Archdiocese, established on November 9, 2006. It is a newly established community with jurisdiction over the Wolgok-dong and Jangwi-dong redevelopment rental apartments and the New Town project area of Jangwi 1, 2 and 3 dongs, judged to need pastoral activity in a poor and marginalized area.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory lists Jangwi1-dong (Mission) as belonging to Seongbuk District No. 4 in the Central Seoul Region of the Seoul Archdiocese, gives the date of establishment as 2006.11.09, lists the patron entry as ‘Community under Heaven’, names Father Francis Kim Jeong-dae as parish priest, and includes the contact for the ‘Seongbuk House of Peace office’.

History

〔Establishment〕 According to the church introduction on page 1 of the Seoul Bulletin dated November 24, 2019, the Jangwi1-dong church was established in November 2006 as a mission church. The Seoul Bulletin explains that mission churches were generally established when places that had been urban Catholic mission chapels were raised to parishes under the evangelization plan for the 2000s drawn up by the Committee for the Pastoral Care of the Poor, founded in 1987, in accordance with the diocesan pastoral policy, but that the Jangwi1-dong (Mission) church, unlike promotion from an urban mission chapel, was newly established as an area judged to need pastoral activity in a poor and marginalized area. The parish was formed in November 2006 with jurisdiction over the Wolgok-dong and Jangwi-dong redevelopment rental apartments and the New Town project area of Jangwi 1, 2 and 3 dongs. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory gives the date of establishment as 2006.11.09.

〔Parish priest’s account of the background to the foundation〕 According to an article contributed in January 2026 to the Jesuit Human Rights Solidarity Research Center webzine by parish priest Father Francis Kim Jeong-dae, the Seoul Archdiocese operates mission parishes in five areas, and the activity of the Jangwi1-dong mission parish began about 20 years ago, later than the other four areas. Father Kim wrote that at that time people seeking profit from construction companies and real-estate speculation joined forces to press for redevelopment here, and that the Seoul Archdiocese came to establish and operate a mission parish here in solidarity with the struggle to secure housing rights for the poor.

〔House of Peace and changes to the space〕 According to the same article, one way the mission parish works is through neighborhood activity and social-welfare work through the ‘House of Peace’. The Jangwi1-dong mission parish is a house-style 2-story building, with the ‘House of Peace’ on the 1 floor and the church space and the rectory where the parish priest resides on the 2 floor. The ‘House of Peace’ on the 1 floor closed in December 2021 and thereafter stood empty without any particular use. After consultation with the faithful and in accordance with the diocesan practice for facility repair work, remodeling was carried out for about 2 weeks from November 24, 2025, moving the church from the 2 floor to the 1 floor and enlarging the rectory on the 2 floor to create a guest room and a reception room doubling as a dining room. Father Kim wrote that after the move of the church the faithful were glad that they no longer had to climb narrow, steeply sloped stairs.

Architecture and Space

According to Father Kim’s article, after remodeling the Jangwi1-dong mission parish has a church space where about 20 people can sit around together, with an adjacent dining space and kitchen facilities, and the kitchen and dining room are large enough for about 15 people to gather for a half-day meeting and share food.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

Father Kim wrote that the Jangwi1-dong mission parish is basically a liturgical community of the Catholic Church but must not be a community isolated from the world, and that activity in solidarity with poor people, victims of society, and people of goodwill is needed. He said that, considering the age range of the community members, active work is not easy, but that he is planning ways to open this place as a welcoming space for poor people and people of goodwill. As examples he mentioned a study space for young people preparing for employment, reading groups, and programs to cook together with middle-aged men living alone.

Related Places and People

• Committee for the Pastoral Care of the Poor: according to the Seoul Bulletin, it was founded in 1987, and under the evangelization plan for the 2000s drawn up by this committee in accordance with the diocesan pastoral policy, urban Catholic mission chapels were raised to mission churches.
• Seongbuk House of Peace: the Bishops’ Conference directory carries its office contact together with the Jangwi1-dong (Mission) entry, and Father Kim’s article says that the ‘House of Peace’ on the 1 floor of the parish building closed in December 2021.
• Father Francis Kim Jeong-dae: he is introduced as parish priest of the Jangwi1-dong mission parish in the Bishops’ Conference directory and in the January 2026 article.

References and Sources

1. Good News parish information, “Jangwi1-dong (Mission)” page (carrying the church introduction on page 1 of the Seoul Bulletin dated November 24, 2019). Establishment as a mission church in November 2006, the general background to mission churches and how Jangwi1-dong differs, jurisdiction.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/mobile/church/bondang_view.asp?orgnum=2731
2. Jesuit Human Rights Solidarity Research Center webzine, Father Kim Jeong-dae (parish priest of the Jangwi1-dong mission parish), “Building hospitality in a mission parish” (2026.01.26). Background to the foundation of the mission parish, closure of the House of Peace, November 2025 remodeling and present space, plan for a welcoming space.
   https://advocacy.jesuit.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=webzine&wr_id=376
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea online directory, “Jangwi1-dong (Mission)”. District affiliation, date of establishment, patron entry, parish priest, Seongbuk House of Peace office.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000214&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011