Catholic Church in South Korea

Last updated

Emblem of the Papacy SE.svg
Catholic Church in South Korea
Korean: 한국의 가톨릭 교회
Seoul Cathedral.jpg
Cathedral Church of Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Type National polity
Classification Catholic
Orientation Asian Christianity, Latin
Scripture Bible
Theology Catholic theology
Governance Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea
Pope Francis
President Matthias Ri Iong-hoon
Apostolic Nuncio Alfred Xuereb
Region South Korea
Language Ecclesiastical Latin, Korean
Headquarters Seoul
Origin27 December 1593
Other name(s)天主教 ("Religion of the Lord of Heaven")
Official website english.cbck.or.kr

The Catholic Church in South Korea (called Cheonjugyo, Korean : 천주교; Hanja : 天主教;lit. Religion of the Lord of Heaven) is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

Contents

In 2020, it had 5,841,000 members (11.28% of the population) with almost 5,000 priests and 9,000 nuns serving across 1,842 parishes. [1]

History

Spanish Jesuit priest Gregorio Céspedes was possibly the first Catholic missionary in Korea, said to have arrived in Busan on 27 December 1593. [2] [3] At the time of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98), Japanese leader Konishi Yukinaga married a Korean Christian woman, who had adopted Julia as her name. [4] Macau received an influx of African slaves, Japanese slaves as well as Christian Korean slaves who were bought by the Portuguese from the Japanese after they were taken prisoner during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98). [5]

However, Catholicism (and Christianity in general) in Korea more generally began in 1784 when Yi Seung-hun was baptized while in China under the Christian name of Peter. He later returned to Korea carrying religious texts, and baptized many fellow countrymen. The Church in Korea continued to grow without formal missionary priests.

During the 19th century, the Catholic Church was targeted by the government of the Joseon dynasty chiefly for the religion's opposition to ancestral "worship", which the Church perceived to be a form of idolatry, but which the state prescribed as a cornerstone of Korean culture.

Despite a century-long persecution that produced thousands of martyrs – 103 of whom were canonized by Pope John Paul II in May 1984, including the first Korean priest, St. Andrew Taegon Kim, who was ordained in 1845 and martyred in 1846 – the Church in Korea expanded. The Apostolic Vicariate of Korea was formed in 1831, and after the expansion of the Church structure over the next century, the current structure of the three Metropolitan Provinces, each with an Archdiocese and several suffragan Dioceses, was established in 1962.

In 1899, "the Sinch'uk Rebellion, a Confucian-led and -organised popular uprising", made a "most barbarous massacre" of from 500 to 600 victims. It was in reaction to promises of tax exemptions by lay-assistants and desecration of "spirit-shrines" by Catholics, after the arrival of two French priests to Cheju. [6]

Current status

Government surveys showed that in 2020, more than 45% of South Koreans practice no religion, that about 22% are Buddhists, and that 29.2% are Christians with 11.1% being Catholics and 18% being Protestants, meaning that Christianity is the largest religion. [7]

The Catholic Church in South Korea has seen significant growth in recent years, increasing its membership from 7.9% of the population to 11% over the past twenty years. [8] [9] At the end of 2017 there were 5,813,770 Catholics in South Korea – 11.0% of the population. [8] In 2017, the Church grew by 1.3%, with over 75,000 adult baptisms. [8] Part of this growth can be attributed to the Church's relatively positive perception by the general public because of its role in the democratization of South Korea, its active participation in various works of social welfare, and its respectful approach to interfaith relationship and matters of traditional Korean spirituality. [10]

There are 15 dioceses including three archdioceses – Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju – and a military ordinariate.

In North Korea under the communist regime, Christianity is officially suppressed, and unofficial estimates by South Korean Church officials place the number of Catholics there at only 5,000. [11] The North Korean Catholic Church, ecclesiastically united with South Korea, is composed of the two dioceses of Diocese of Pyongyang and Diocese of Hamhung (suffragan to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Seoul), and the only territorial abbey outside Europe, the Territorial Abbey of Tokwon or Dokwon.

South Korea (and by extension the Catholic Church in all Korea, north and south) has the fourth largest number of saints in the Catholic Church since 1984 as categorized by nation, [12] a number which includes the Korean Martyrs.

Pope Francis' visit

Pope Francis accepted an invitation to visit South Korea in August 2014. The four-day visit (14–18 August) culminated with a Papal Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul on 18 August. During a mass on 16 August, the Pope beatified 124 Korean Catholic martyrs. [13] An invitation for North Korea's Catholics to attend was declined, due to South Korea's refusal to withdraw from military exercises which it had planned with the United States.

Dioceses and archdioceses

South Korea has fifteen territorial dioceses (three archdioceses and twelve dioceses) and one military diocese: [14] [15]

Dioceses of Korea Dioceses of Korea-en.svg
Dioceses of Korea

Province of Seoul

Province of Daegu

Province of Gwangju

Other

Inculturation

Catholicism in South Korea is unique in that it has inculturated with traditional Confucian customs that form an integral part of traditional secular Korean culture. As a result, South Korean Catholics continue to practice ancestral rites and observe many Confucian customs and philosophies. [16] [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Korea</span>

The practice of Christianity in Korea is marginal in North Korea, but significant in South Korea, where it revolves around Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.8 million members, respectively. Christianity in the form of Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period by Confucian scholars who encountered it in China. In 1603, Yi Su-gwang, a Korean politician, returned from Beijing carrying several theological books written by Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit missionary to China. He began disseminating the information in the books, introducing Christianity to Korea. In 1787, King Jeongjo of Joseon officially outlawed Catholicism as an "evil practice," declaring it heretical and strictly banned. Catholicism was reintroduced in 1785 by Yi Seung-hun and French and Chinese Catholic priests were soon invited by the Korean Christians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean Martyrs</span> Christian victims of persecution in 19th-century Korea; some canonized in 1984

The Korean Martyrs were the victims of religious persecution against Catholics during the 19th century in Korea. Among them are 103 Saints and 124 Blesseds officially recognized by the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul</span> Catholic archdiocese in Korea

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Seoul is a Metropolitan archdiocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church comprising the metropolitan area of Seoul, South Korea, whose province comprises parts of South Korea and all North Korea, yet depends on the missionary Dicastery for Evangelization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Jeju</span> Roman Catholic diocese in South Korea

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jeju is a Latin rite suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gwangju, South Korea, yet depends on the missionary Dicastery for Evangelization. Its episcopal see and mother church is Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Jeju City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Algeria</span>

The Catholic Church in Algeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Prior to independence, the European Catholic settlers had historic legacy and powerful presence, but today Catholics constitute only a small minority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Austria</span>

The Catholic Church in Austria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope in Rome. The Church's governing body in Austria is the Austrian Conference of Catholic Bishops, made up of the hierarchy of the two archbishops, the bishops and the abbot of territorial abbey of Wettingen-Mehrerau. Nevertheless, each bishop is independent in his own diocese, answerable only to the Pope. The current president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops is Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. The Austrian church is the largest Christian Confession of Austria, with 4.73 million members in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Indonesia</span>

The Catholic Church in Indonesia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the pope in Rome. Catholicism is one of the six approved religions in Indonesia, the others being Islam, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. According to official figures, Catholics made up 3.12 percent of the population in 2018. The number of Catholics is, therefore, more than 8.3 million. Indonesia is primarily Muslim, but Catholicism is the dominant faith in certain areas of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Russia</span>

The Catholic Church in Russia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Italy</span>

The Italian Catholic Church, or Catholic Church in Italy, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the Pope in Rome, under the Conference of Italian Bishops. The pope serves also as Primate of Italy and Bishop of Rome. In addition to the Italian Republic, two other sovereign states are included in Italian dioceses: San Marino and Vatican City. There are 225 dioceses in the Catholic Church in Italy, see further in this article and in the article List of Catholic dioceses in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Japan</span>

The Catholic Church in Japan is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the pope in Rome. As of 2021, there were approximately 431,100 Catholics in Japan, 6,200 of whom are clerics, religious and seminarians. Japan has 15 dioceses, including three metropolitan archdioceses, with 34 bishops, 1,235 priests, and 40 deacons spread out across 957 churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myeongdong Cathedral</span> Catholic cathedral in South Korea

The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, informally known as Myeongdong Cathedral (명동대성당), is the national cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul. Located in the Myeongdong neighbourhood of Jung District, Seoul, South Korea, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Chung Soon-taick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in North Korea</span>

The Catholic Church in North Korea retains a community of several hundred adherents who practice under the supervision of the state-established Korean Catholic Association (KCA) rather than the Catholic hierarchy. The dioceses of the Church have remained vacant since Christian persecutions in the late 1940s. The most prominent congregation is that of Pyongyang, which meets at Changchung Cathedral. According to a KCA official, two other congregations exist. The state ideology of Juche has largely displaced Catholic faith, and full services are provided only to people with a Catholic family background.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Korea</span>

The Catholic Church in Korea is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the pope in Rome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Kim Taegon</span> Korean Catholic saint (1821–1846)

Andrew Kim Taegeon, also referred to as Andrew Kim in English, was the first Korean Catholic priest and is the patron saint of Korean clergy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martyrs of Japan</span> Christian missionaries who were martyred in Japan

The Martyrs of Japan were Christian missionaries and followers who were persecuted and executed, mostly during the Tokugawa shogunate period in the 17th century. The Japanese saw the rituals of the Christians causing people to pray, close their eyes with the sign of the cross and lock their hands together – this was seen as psychological warfare against the Japanese and this was punished as such. More than 400 martyrs of Japan have been recognized with beatification by the Catholic Church, and 42 have been canonized as saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Masan</span> Roman Catholic diocese in South Korea

The Diocese of Masan is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in South Korea. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Daegu. The current bishop is Constantine Bae Ki Hyen, appointed in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamhung</span> Latin Catholic diocese in North Korea

The Diocese of Hamhung is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Yeom Soo-jung</span> Archbishop of Seoul from 2012 to 2021

Andrew Yeom Soo-jung is a Korean prelate of the Catholic Church who was the Archbishop of Seoul from 2012 to 2021, while also holding the title of Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Pyongyang in North Korea. Pope Francis made him a cardinal in 2014. He was also the chairman of Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation (CPBC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">16 Martyrs of Japan</span> Christian martyrs from Japan

The 16 Martyrs of Japan were Christians who were persecuted for their faith in Japan, mostly during the 17th century.

References

  1. ↑ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08 [ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Donald F. Lach (15 July 2008). Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume I: The Century of Discovery. University of Chicago Press. p. 721. ISBN   978-0-226-46708-5.
  3. ↑ Chai-Shin Yu (1 January 1996). The Founding of Catholic Tradition in Korea. Jain Publishing Company. p. 141. ISBN   978-0-89581-892-8.
  4. ↑ Daniel Tudor (2012). "4 Christianity". Korea: The Impossible Country. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN   978-1462910229 . Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Kaijian Tang (2015). Setting Off from Macau: Essays on Jesuit History during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. BRILL. p. 93. ISBN   978-9004305526 . Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  6. ↑ David J. Nemeth (1987). The Architecture of Ideology: Neo-Confucian Imprinting on Cheju Island, Korea. University of California Press. pp. 145–. ISBN   978-0-520-09713-1.
  7. ↑ Catholic population of S. Korea grows by 50% in 20 years Vatican News 16 January 2020
  8. 1 2 3 "Catholic Church in Korea Statistics 2017". Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "Statistics of the Catholic Church in Korea, 1997". CBCK. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "5 Reasons For Explosive Growth In The Korean Catholic Church".
  11. ↑ "With New Cardinal and New Martyrs, Church Is Growing in South Korea | Daily News | NCRegister.com". www.ncregister.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014.
  12. ↑ Kamm, Henry (7 May 1984). "POPE CANONIZES 103 MARTYRS IN SEOUL". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  13. ↑ Rupert Wingfield-Hayes (16 August 2014). "Pope Francis beatifies 124 South Korean Catholic martyrs". BBC.
  14. ↑ GCatholic.org: Catholic Dioceses in South Korea
  15. ↑ Catholic-Hierarchy: Current Dioceses in South Korea
  16. ↑ Park, Chang-Won (10 June 2010). Cultural Blending in Korean Death Rites . Continuum International Publishing Group. pp.  12–13. ISBN   978-1-4411-1749-6.
  17. ↑ Sang-Hun, Choe (19 July 2006). "Quest for perfect grave keeps Korean feud alive - Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune". The New York Times.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.