Gwangju (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Simon Ok Hyun-jjn, Archbishop
Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop Emeritus
Hyginus Kim Hee-jong, Archbishop Emeritus
Victorinus Youn Kong-hi, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 10 March 1962
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Korea, Republic of
Square Kilometers: 12,846 (4,961 Square Miles)
Description: (Kwangju until 2012)
Official Web Site: http://www.gjcatholic.or.kr/
Mailing Address: Diocesan Office, 980 Sangmu-daero, Seo-gu, Kwangju 61995, Korea
Telephone: (062)380-2801
Fax: 380-2806

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu
- Latin Name: Kwoshuensis
- 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

Owen McPolin, S.S.C.M.E. † (13 Apr 1937 Appointed - 1942 Resigned)
Patrick Thomas Brennan, S.S.C.M.E. † (12 Nov 1948 Appointed - 24 Sep 1950 Died)
Harold William Henry, S.S.C.M.E. † (Oct 1954 Appointed - 28 Jun 1971 Appointed, Apostolic Administrator of Cheju-Do)
Peter Han Kong-ryel † (28 Jun 1971 Appointed - 7 Mar 1973 Died)
Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (25 Oct 1973 Appointed - 30 Nov 2000 Retired)
Andreas Choi Chang-mou (30 Nov 2000 Succeeded - 25 Mar 2010 Resigned)
Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (25 Mar 2010 Succeeded - 19 Nov 2022 Retired)
Simon Ok Hyun-jjn (19 Nov 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu
13 April 1937	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Taiku (Zenra Nando)	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 Gwangju
10 March 1962	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kwangju	Archdiocese of Gwangju
28 June 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Gwangju (Cheju-do Island in the East China Sea)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cheju-Do (erected)

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 Gwangju

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

2010 329,951 3,373,315 9.8% 211 59 270 1,222 178 544 119 ap2011

2013 342,380 3,415,706 10.0% 225 54 279 1,227 148 493 131 ap2014

2016 355,923 3,430,216 10.4% 245 57 302 1,178 193 526 137 ap2017

2019 363,697 3,398,163 10.7% 248 60 308 1,180 118 522 138 ap2020

2021 365,528 3,356,678 10.9% 268 53 321 1,138 120 513 140 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	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 Gwangju
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
2010	329,951	3,373,315	9.8%	211	59	270	1,222	178	544	119	ap2011
2013	342,380	3,415,706	10.0%	225	54	279	1,227	148	493	131	ap2014
2016	355,923	3,430,216	10.4%	245	57	302	1,178	193	526	137	ap2017
2019	363,697	3,398,163	10.7%	248	60	308	1,180	118	522	138	ap2020
2021	365,528	3,356,678	10.9%	268	53	321	1,138	120	513	140	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Andreas Choi Chang-mou (Coadjutor Archbishop: 9 Feb 1999; Archbishop: 30 Nov 2000 to 25 Mar 2010)
Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (Priest: 5 Jul 1975; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Jul 2003; Coadjutor Archbishop: 10 Jul 2009; Archbishop: 25 Mar 2010 to 19 Nov 2022)
Simon Ok Hyun-jjn (Priest: 26 Jan 1994; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 May 2011; Archbishop: 19 Nov 2022 - )
Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (Archbishop: 25 Oct 1973 to 30 Nov 2000)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Patrick Thomas Brennan, S.S.C.M.E. † (Prefect: 12 Nov 1948 to 24 Sep 1950)
Peter Han Kong-ryel † (Archbishop: 28 Jun 1971 to 7 Mar 1973)
Harold William Henry, S.S.C.M.E. † (Prefect: Oct 1954; Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jan 1957; Archbishop: 10 Mar 1962 to 28 Jun 1971)
Owen McPolin, 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)