성 베네딕도회 왜관 수도원

History & origins

The modern history of the Benedictines in Korea began in earnest in 1909, when monks of the St. Ottilien Congregation established a monastery in Baekdong, Seoul. The center of the community later moved to Wonsan and Tokwon, but the Tokwon monastery was suppressed by the communist authorities in 1949 and many monks suffered severe persecution. After war and division scattered the community, Benedictines who remained in South Korea established a new base at Waegwan in 1952. By 1956 the community had obtained a more stable institutional footing and continued the monastic tradition that developed into today’s Waegwan Abbey.

The Seoul community in Jangchung-dong emerged during that period of rebuilding. Historical Catholic sources record that in 1958 Waegwan Abbey purchased land and a building in Jangchung-dong to serve as a branch house and seminary. This was an important step by which the monastic community, newly rooted in Waegwan, re-established a permanent presence in Seoul for formation and apostolic work. In 1960 Bundo publishing and printing activities began, developing the distribution of liturgical, theological, and spiritual books; the Seoul presence became closely connected with this publishing apostolate.

The present Seoul community at 14 Jangchungdan-ro 4-gil continues that historical line. It is still listed as the Seoul branch of Waegwan Abbey and remains connected with the abbey’s publishing and book apostolate in the capital. The available sources, however, do not establish that the physical building acquired in 1958 is the same structure standing today. It is therefore more accurate to distinguish the establishment of a Jangchung-dong base in 1958 from the identification of the current branch at its present address. The significance of the Jangchung-dong presence is not limited to the geographical extension of a community rebuilt after war and division. Because a seminary and publishing apostolate were connected with the site, it also represents a historical convergence of religious formation and intellectual-cultural service.