Seogyo-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Seogyo-dong Church is a parish belonging to the 2 Seodaemun-Mapo District of the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Originating as the ‘Yanghwajin Parish’ of the Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine, it was separated from the memorial hall in 1983 and renamed Seogyo-dong Parish. Its establishment date is listed as October 10, 1967 in the Dictionary of Korean Catholicism and as August 1, 1967 in the Korean Catholic Directory.

History

When the Association for the Promotion of Korean Catholic Martyrs purchased 1,381 pyeong of land on December 7, 1956 to develop the Yanghwajin area, known as the Jeoldusan martyrdom site, into a historic site, the Archdiocese of Seoul decided to build a memorial church dedicated to the Blessed Korean Martyrs and a memorial hall here as part of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Byeongin Martyrdom. The archdiocese established ‘Yanghwajin Parish’ dated October 10, 1967 and appointed Father Andrew Choe Seok-u to serve concurrently as its first pastor. The memorial hall held its blessing ceremony on October 21, 1967. The Dictionary of Korean Catholicism records that Seogyo-dong Parish was separated and established from Ahyeon-dong Parish, and that its patron is the Korean Martyrs.

After Seongsan-dong Parish was separated on August 21, 1981, the number of faithful in Yanghwajin Parish fell sharply and, compounded by financial difficulties, a proposal emerged to separate the memorial hall and the parish. The present church site in Seogyo-dong, measuring 341 pyeong, was purchased on December 12, 1982, and effective February 18 of the following year, the memorial hall and the parish were separated and the parish was renamed ‘Seogyo-dong Parish’.

Architecture and Space

Construction began on March 27, 1983, and the blessing ceremony for the church with 1 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors (511 pyeong) was held on November 25 of the same year. An additional 92 pyeong of nearby land was purchased on August 16, 1989, and an education center, rectory and convent with 2 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors (287 pyeong) were completed on August 15, 1993. On December 5, 1992, a Korean traditional music (gugak) Mass was introduced to promote the inculturation of the liturgy.

Related Places and People

• Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Memorial Hall: The memorial hall that stood together with the parish during the Yanghwajin Parish period, separated from the parish in 1983.
• Ahyeon-dong Parish: The parish recorded in the Dictionary of Korean Catholicism as the mother parish from which Seogyo-dong Parish was separated.
• Seongsan-dong Parish: Established after being separated from Yanghwajin Parish in 1981.
• Father Andrew Choe Seok-u: The first director of the Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Memorial Hall and the first pastor of Yanghwajin Parish.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Dictionary of Korean Catholicism, “Seogyo-dong Parish.” Verified the establishment of Yanghwajin Parish on October 10, 1967, its patron the Korean Martyrs, the background of the construction of the Jeoldusan Memorial Hall, the renaming of the parish in 1983, the construction of the church, the completion of the education center, and the introduction of the Korean traditional music Mass.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3143
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory, “Seogyo-dong.” Verified the affiliated district (the 2 Seodaemun-Mapo District), the establishment date 1967.08.01, and the patron the Korean Martyrs.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000134&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011