Yeokchon-dong Catholic Church

History & origins

Yeokchon-dong Parish was established on May 9, 1974, by transferring Catholics from Bulgwang-dong, Eungam-dong and Hongje-dong parishes in order to address the pastoral difficulties created by their broad territories. Father Baek Eun-gi, Raphael, became the first pastor. Because there was initially no church, Mass was celebrated at Angel Kindergarten in Yeokchon-dong.

In June of the same year, construction began on the present site provided by the archdiocese, and the first church was completed and dedicated in September. The parish soon established catechumen instruction, a choir and a parish newsletter, laying the foundations of organized community life. As the number of Catholics increased quickly, the church was enlarged and catechetical space expanded in 1975.

By around 1979, another expansion had become necessary and the parish decided to construct a new church. Work proceeded in 1980, and in November that year a new building with one basement and two above-ground floors was completed. The development of youth and young-adult groups, the Legion of Mary and other organizations accompanied this physical expansion.

As the community continued to grow, Yeokchon-dong itself became a source for new parishes: Galhyeon-dong Parish was separated from it in 1994, and Sinsa-dong Parish in 1998, with parishioners and records transferred to the new communities. This later division mirrors the parish’s own origin, when it had been formed by receiving Catholics from three larger neighboring parishes. The recurring pattern—dividing a broad territory to establish a new community, then later giving rise to further parishes as that community grew—shows how parish organization in Seoul adapted to the expansion of residential districts on the city’s outskirts.