Archdiocese of Kwangju

---

Bishop(s) Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-jong, Auxiliary Bishop Victorinus Youn Kong-hi, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Cheju Jeonju {Chonju, Jeon Ju}

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 10 March 1962 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Korea, Republic of Square Kilometers: 12,414 (4,794 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.kjcatholic.or.kr/ Mailing Address: Puk-gu-Im-dong 5-32, Kwangju 500-010; Pukkwangju P.O. Box 28, Kwangju 500-600, Korea Telephone: (062)525-9004/6 Fax: 521-3573

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu
  • Erected: 13 April 1937
  • Country: Korea, Republic of

• Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju
  • Latin Name: Kvangiuensis
  • Name Changed: 12 July 1950
  • Country: Korea, Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Kwangju
  • Latin Name: Kvangiuensis
  • Elevated: 21 January 1957
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Korea, Republic of

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Eugenio MacPolin, S.S.C.M.E. † (13 Apr 1937 Appointed - 1942 Died)
• Patrizio Tommaso Brennan, S.S.C.M.E. † (12 Nov 1948 Appointed - 1952 Died)
• Harold William Henry, S.S.C.M.E. † ( 1954 Appointed - 28 Jun 1971 Appointed, Apostolic Administrator of Cheju)
• Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (25 Oct 1973 Appointed - 30 Nov 2000 Retired)
• Andreas Choi Chang-mou (30 Nov 2000 Succeeded - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu
13 April 1937	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju
12 July 1950	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu	Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju
Vicariate Apostolic of Kwangju
21 January 1957	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju	Vicariate Apostolic of Kwangju
Archdiocese of Kwangju
10 March 1962	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kwangju	Archdiocese of Kwangju

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju
1949	6,978	3,295,000	.2%	4	19	23	303			3	23	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Kwangju
Archdiocese of Kwangju
1970	75,057	4,688,404	1.6%	87	63	150	500		77	154	43	ap1971
1980	81,736	4,028,000	2.0%	33	36	69	1,184		61	157	50	ap1981
1990	175,833	3,777,723	4.7%	75	32	107	1,643		96	362	60	ap1991
1999	262,279	3,492,725	7.5%	137	30	167	1,570		119	460	88	ap2000
2000	273,552	3,515,998	7.8%	144	32	176	1,554		154	503	90	ap2001
2001	281,493	3,517,902	8.0%	182	13	195	1,443		119	498	96	ap2002
2002	288,602	3,509,841	8.2%	190	14	204	1,414		144	541	97	ap2003
2003	294,771	3,461,146	8.5%	200	23	223	1,321		101	653	100	ap2004
2004	301,448	3,425,105	8.8%	201	27	228	1,322		134	562	102	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Patrizio Tommaso Brennan, S.S.C.M.E. † (Prefect: 12 Nov 1948 to 1952)
• Andreas Choi Chang-mou (Coadjutor Archbishop: 9 Feb 1999; Archbishop: 30 Nov 2000)
• Peter Han Kong-ryel † (Archbishop: 28 Jun 1971 to 7 Mar 1973)
• Harold William Henry, S.S.C.M.E. † (Prefect: 1954; Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jan 1957; Archbishop: 10 Mar 1962 to 28 Jun 1971)
• Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (Priest: 5 Jul 1975; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Jul 2003)
• Eugenio MacPolin, S.S.C.M.E. † (Prefect: 13 Apr 1937 to 1942)
• James Edward Michaels, S.S.C.M.E. (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Feb 1966 to 3 Apr 1973)
• Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (Archbishop: 25 Oct 1973 to 30 Nov 2000)