Samseong-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Samseong-dong Church is a parish belonging to Gangnam District No. 11 in the East Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, whose patron is the Holy Family. It was established on September 7, 2000, with Cheongdam-dong Parish as its mother parish, and has jurisdiction over all of Samseong 2-dong and part of Samseong 1-dong.

History

[Establishment (2000)] The parish introduction on the parish website states that Samseong-dong Holy Family Parish was established on September 7, 2000, with Cheongdam-dong Parish as its mother parish, with jurisdiction over all of Samseong 2-dong and part of Samseong 1-dong. The establishment date in the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea is also 2000.09.07. The Digital Gangnam Culture Encyclopedia records that in September 2000 it was divided from Cheongdam-dong Church to establish Samseong 2-dong Church. The list of former pastors on the website shows that the first pastor, Father Jacob Choe Seon-ung, took office on October 1, 2000.

[Church construction and name change (2000–2002)] According to the Digital Gangnam Culture Encyclopedia, immediately after its establishment the parish built and blessed a complete prefabricated church building, not a temporary one, and this church was once regarded as a model for new urban church construction. In 2001, it additionally purchased the church site and changed the parish name to Samseong-dong Church, and in 2002, it expanded the church and newly built the convent, rectory, and education center. The same entry records that the site is small and the underground space of the first prefabricated building could not be developed, leaving problems such as lack of space.

[Patron Saint, the Holy Family] The introduction to the patron saint on the website describes the Holy Family as the family that had to return from refuge in Egypt to Nazareth and start work anew, and explains why the Church emphasizes the Holy Family of Nazareth and what it means that the family is a school of faith.

[Former pastors] The introduction to clergy on the website lists as former pastors No. 1 Jacob Choe Seon-ung (2000.10.01–2004.09.30), No. 2 John the Baptist Lee Yeong-chun (took office 2004.09.21), No. 3 Andrew Kim Sung-ho (2009.02.17–2011.02.22), No. 4 Peter Shim Heung-bo (2011.02.22–2016.02.16), No. 5 Stephen Do Chang-hwan (2016.02.16–2021.02.16) and No. 6 Lino Kim Hyeon-gyu (2021.02.16–2026.02.19), and states that the current pastor, Father Francis Xavier Lee Jeong-hun, took office on February 19, 2026. It is noted that Father Choe Seon-ung died on May 24, 2020, and Father Lee Yeong-chun died on February 3, 2012.

[Former assistant and associate pastors] The list of former assistants on the same page is Paul Lee Tae-gyu (2001.01.01–2002.11.30), Daniel Hong Sang-beom (2002.12.01–2004.09.30), Joel Park Jin-su (2012.02.21–2014.02.18), Paul Kim Dong-ho (2014.02.18–2016.02.16), Paul Cha Bauna (2016.02.16–2018.02.13), Joseph Ahn Byeong-guk (2018.02.13–2021.02.16), Henrico Jeong Rok-su (associate pastor, 2021.02.16–2024.02.13) and Paul Gong Deok-hwan (2024.02.13–2026.02.19). The current assistant is Father Joseph Ha Tae-seong, who took office on February 19, 2026.

[Present situation] The Digital Gangnam Culture Encyclopedia states that under the pastor and assistant priest, the parish has, under the general president, a standing committee, planning committee, liturgy committee, finance management committee, men’s district section, women’s district section, mission section, elderly section, youth section, education section, family pastoral section, social welfare section, public relations section, facilities section and others, and that under each section groups such as the Legion, Association for the Deceased, St. Vincent de Paul Society, M.E. and others are active. As of 2016, the number of faithful is recorded as 4,985, and the number of faithful in the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea is also 4,985, with 0 Catholic mission chapel.

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The online address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists affiliated diocese Archdiocese of Seoul, region/district East Seoul Region No. 11 Gangnam District, English name Samseongdong Catholic Church, establishment date 2000.09.07 and patron Holy Family. The Digital Gangnam Culture Encyclopedia gives the jurisdiction as all of Samseong 2-dong and part of Samseong 1-dong.

Related Places and People

• Cheongdam-dong Church: It is the mother parish of Samseong-dong Parish.
• Father Jacob Choe Seon-ung: First pastor (took office 2000.10.01).

References and Sources

1. Samseong-dong Church website, “Parish Introduction and Patron Saint”. Establishment on September 7, 2000 with Cheongdam-dong Parish as mother parish, jurisdiction, and introduction to the patron saint Holy Family.
   http://samsungdongcatholic.org/14
2. Samseong-dong Church website, “Clergy”. Dates of taking and leaving office of former pastors and assistant/associate pastors.
   http://samsungdongcatholic.org/24
3. Digital Gangnam Culture Encyclopedia, “Samseong-dong Church”. Division from Cheongdam-dong Church, construction of prefabricated church, site purchase and name change in 2001, expansion in 2002, sectional organization, number of faithful in 2016.
   https://www.grandculture.net/gangnam/toc/GC04801223
4. Online address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “Samseong-dong”. Affiliated district, establishment date, patron, number of faithful.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000125&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011