Archdiocese of Gwangju

The Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju (Latin: Archidioecesis Kvangiuensis, Hangul: 천주교 광주대교구) is a particular church of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, one of the three Metropolitan sees of the Catholic Church in Korea. The Archdiocese covers the city of Gwangju and entire South Jeolla Province.

Archdiocese of Gwangju Archidioecesis Kvangiuensis 광주대교구
Coat of arms
Location
Country	South Korea
Territory	Gwangju, South Jeolla
Ecclesiastical province	Gwangju
Statistics
Area	12,596 km2 (4,863 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2017) 3,360,194 365,649 (10.8%)
Parishes	139
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	April 13, 1937 (as Apostolic prefecture) March 10, 1962 (as Archdiocese)
Cathedral	Im-dong Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Co-cathedral	Buk-dong Cathedral
Patron saint	Anselm of Canterbury
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Archbishop	Simon Ok Hyun-jin
Bishops emeritus	Andreas Choi Chang-mou Victorinus Youn Kong-hi Hyginus Kim Hee-jong
Map
Website
gjcatholic.or.kr

History

On 13 April 1937 Pope Pius XI established the Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu. Pope Pius XII changed its name to the Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju on 12 July 1950. It was elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic on 21 January 1957. Pope John XXIII elevated the vicariate to an archdiocese on 10 March 1962.^[1][2]

Leadership

Ordinaries

Apostolic Prefects of Kwangju

• Owen McPolin (1937–1942)
• Thomas Asagoro Wakida (1942–1945)
• Owen McPolin (1945–1947)
• Patrick Thomas Brennan (1949–1950)
• Harold William Henry (1954–1957)

Apostolic Vicars of Kwangju

• Harold William Henry (1957–1962)

Archbishops of Gwangju

• Harold William Henry (1962–1971), appointed Apostolic Administrator of Cheju
• Peter Han Kong-ryel (1971–1973)
• Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (1973–2000)
• Andreas Choi Chang-mou (2000–2010)
• Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2010–2022)
• Simon Ok Hyun-jin (2022–present)^[3]

Coadjutor Archbishops

• Andreas Choi Chang-mou (1999–2000)
• Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2009–2010)

Auxiliary Bishops

• Andreas Choi Chang-mou (1994–1999)
• Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2003–2009)
• Simon Ok Hyun-jin (2011–2022)^[4]