South Korea

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Sixteen new priests were ordained Feb. 1–2, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea.

16 priests, 25 deacons ordained in Seoul, site of World Youth Day 2027

Feb 6, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taek of Seoul recently ordained 16 new priests and 25 new deacons for the archdiocese that will... Read more

World Youth Day pilgrims in Panama City from the Archdiocese of Seoul.

Archbishop to invite young North Koreans to next World Youth Day in Seoul

Nov 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick shared this week that he plans to invite a youth delegation from North Korea to the... Read more

A group of South Koreans pray at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The challenges facing South Korea in organizing the next World Youth Day

Aug 12, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

One priest says that being designated the site of the next WYD is an opportunity “to spread faith in Christ”... Read more

Justina, a young Korean woman who was recently baptized and entered the Catholic Church, explained that she decided to participate in World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon “for many reasons. But I really wanted to see the pope.”

Recently baptized Korean woman comes to WYD to get to know Catholic community

“It’s just so amazing to see all the Catholic youth from all over the world gathered here together through the... Read more

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South Korea’s Catholic bishops pray for Halloween crowd surge victims

Oct 31, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Catholic bishops in South Korea offered condolences to the bereaved families of the more than 150 people killed in a... Read more

The Haemi Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine near Seosan, South Korea.

South Korean shrine celebrates designation as international pilgrimage site

Jan 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

Haemi Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine is the second Korean site to receive the honor. Read more

South Korean President Moon Jae-in presents the cross to Pope Francis at the Vatican, Oct. 29, 2021.

Pope Francis receives cross made from barbed wire from North Korean border

Oct 29, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The cross was a gift from South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Read more

Pope Francis, pictured Oct. 15, 2014. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis to meet leaders of the US, India and South Korea in the next 24 hours

Oct 29, 2021

By Courtney Mares

All three leaders are in Rome this week for the G20 summit. Read more

Bishop Peter Chung Soon-Taick.

Pope Francis appoints new archbishops for Seoul and Nairobi

Oct 28, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Seoul’s new archbishop is a Discalced Carmelite. Read more

An image of Blessed Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions, who were beatified Aug. 16, 2014.

Relics of first Korean Catholic martyrs identified with DNA testing

Sep 1, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The martyrs were among the first of thousands of Catholics to be tortured and executed. Read more

Pope Francis waves during his Angelus address at the Vatican July 25, 2021.

Pope Francis thanks South Korea’s bishops for $1M COVID-19 vaccine donation

Jul 30, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope praised the ‘gesture of Christian charity, which really touched me.’ Read more

North Korean flags in Pyongyang.

Pope Francis in Pyongyang? An intelligence chief is working to make it happen

Jul 7, 2021

By Courtney Mares

No pope has ever visited the “hermit kingdom.” Read more

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk.

Pope Francis sends condolences after death of South Korean Cardinal Cheong

Apr 29, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The cardinal sought to bring peace and unification to the Korean peninsula. Read more

South Korean flags.

South Korea proposes new law allowing abortion up to 14 weeks

Oct 8, 2020

By Courtney Mares

South Korea’s National Assembly is considering a proposal to allow abortion up to 14 weeks as the deadline approaches to... Read more

South Korea flag.

Korean bishops back anti-discrimination law, with caveats

Sep 11, 2020

A South Korean bill banning discrimination across 26 different categories has hesitant support from the Catholic bishops of the country,... Read more

Pro-life students pictured with the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea Aug. 21, 2020. Photo courtesy of the South Korean Pro-Life Students Association.

Pro-life student group sends letter to Pope Francis over South Korea abortion law

Aug 27, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A pro-life association of university students is appealing to Pope Francis for support as the South Korean government faces a... Read more

Participants in a March for Life in South Korea. Photo courtesy of Juan Pablo Postigo.

As South Korea revises abortion law, Catholics mobilize to protect unborn life

Aug 25, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As the deadline approaches for South Korea’s National Assembly to revise the country’s abortion law, Korean Catholics are working to... Read more

Korean cardinal to consecrate Pyongyang Diocese to Mary on Assumption

Aug 13, 2020

The Archbishop of Seoul, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, has announced that he will consecrate the Diocese of Pyongyang to Our... Read more

Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul speaks at a press conference on Feb. 25, 2014.

Catholics pray for reconciliation on 70th anniversary of the Korean War

Jun 25, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Korean Catholics marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War -- a war which never technically ended... Read more

Myeong dong Catholic Cathedral, Seoul.

Church in South Korea growing, slowly

Apr 27, 2020

The number of Catholics in South Korea increased by less than 50,000 in 2019, continuing a trend of slowing growth after a... Read more