Diocese of

Jeonju 전주

South Korea

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Jeonju 전주 / Chŏnju / 全州 (正體中文) / Ieoniuen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Gwangju 광주

Neighbouring Dioceses: Daejeon 대전 (↑), Cheongju 청주 (↗), Daegu 대구 (→), Masan 마산 (↘), Gwangju 광주 (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1937.04.13: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Zenshu (from Apostolic Vicariate of Taiku 대구)
1950.07.12: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Jeonju 전주 / Chŏnju / 全州 (正體中文) / Ieoniuen(sis) (Latin)
1957.01.26: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Jeonju 전주 / Chŏnju / 全州 (正體中文) / Ieoniuen(sis) (Latin)
1962.03.10: Promoted as Diocese of Jeonju 전주 / Chŏnju / 全州 (正體中文) / Ieoniuen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Gwangju 광주)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.03.14 – ...):

Bishop John Kim Son-tae (김선태 사도요한 / 金仙泰) (64)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Jeonju 전주 (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Kim Son-tae (김선태 사도요한 / 金仙泰) (64)
(2017.03.14 – ...)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea)

가서 너도 그렇게 하여라

Born:	1961.09.15 (Yeosan-myeon, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1989.01.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.05.13

Priest of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1989.01.20 – 2017.03.14)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (2017.03.14 – ...)

Bishop Vincent Ri Pyung-ho (이병호 빈첸시오 / 李炳浩) (85)
(1990.02.08 – 2017.03.14)

Bishop emeritus of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea)

Non quid ego volo sed quod tu

Born:	1941.03.10 (Wanju, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1969.12.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.04.03

Priest of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1969.12.15 – 1990.02.08)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1990.02.08 – 2017.03.14)

Bishop Michael Pak Jeong-il (박정일 미카엘 / 朴正一)
(1982.06.08 – 1988.12.15)

In fide et lenitate / 충성 온유

Born:	1926.12.18 (P’yongnam, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1958.11.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.05.31
Died:	2024.08.28 (South Korea † 97)

Priest of Busan 부산 (South Korea) (1958.11.23 – 1977.04.15)

Bishop of Cheju 제주 (South Korea) (1977.04.15 – 1982.06.08)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1982.06.08 – 1988.12.15)

Bishop of Masan 마산 (South Korea) (1988.12.15 – 2002.11.11)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (1999 – 2002)

Bishop Augustine Kim Jae-deok (김재덕 아우구스티노 / 金載德)
(1973.01.29 – 1981.04.10)

Born:	1920.06.01 (Chien-An, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1947.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.03.19
Died:	1988.06.05 († 68)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1973.01.29 – 1981.04.10)

Bishop Peter Han Kong-ryel (한공렬 베드로) (later Archbishop)
(1962.03.10 – 1971)

In verbo tuo laxabo rete

Born:	1913.02.03 (Incheon, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1939.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.03.12
Died:	1973.03.07 († 60)

Titular Bishop of Sagalassus (1961.01.03 – 1962.03.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1961.01.03 – 1962.03.10)

Bishop of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1962.03.10 – 1971)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gwangju 광주 (South Korea) (1971 – 1973.03.07)

Vicars Apostolic of Jeonju 전주 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Peter Han Kong-ryel (한공렬 베드로) (later Archbishop)
(1961.01.03 – 1962.03.10)

(see above)

Bishop Bartholomew Kim Hyeon-bae (김현배 바르톨로메오)
(1957.01.26 – 1960.04.30)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1906.08.23 (Yesan, South Korea)
Ordained Priest:	1932.05.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.05.21
Died:	1960.04.30 († 53)

Prefect Apostolic of Zenshu (South Korea) (1947.06.13 – 1950.07.12)

Prefect Apostolic of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1950.07.12 – 1957.01.26)

Titular Bishop of Agbia (1957.01.26 – 1960.04.30)

Vicar Apostolic of Jeonju 전주 (South Korea) (1957.01.26 – 1960.04.30)

Prefects Apostolic of Jeonju 전주 (Roman Rite)

Fr. Bartholomew Kim Hyeon-bae (김현배 바르톨로메오) (later Bishop)
(1950.07.12 – 1957.01.26)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Zenshu (Roman Rite)

Fr. Bartholomew Kim Hyeon-bae (김현배 바르톨로메오) (later Bishop)
(1947.06.13 – 1950.07.12)

(see above)

Fr. Paul Chou (주재용 바오로)
(1941 – 1946)

Died:

1946

Prefect Apostolic of Zenshu (South Korea) (1941 – 1946)

Fr. Stephen Kim (김양홍 스테파노)
(1937.04.13 – 1941)

Died:

1941

Prefect Apostolic of Zenshu (South Korea) (1937.04.13 – 1941)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Joongang Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Jeonju 전주시, Jeollabuk-do 전라북도
Former Cathedral: Jeondong Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Jeonju 전주시, Jeollabuk-do 전라북도
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Daejeon 대전 (↑), Cheongju 청주 (↗), Daegu 대구 (→), Masan 마산 (↘), Gwangju 광주 (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 8,069 km²

Population: 202,007 Catholics (11.4% of 1,769,607 total)

Pastoral Centres: 96 parishes, 60 missions

Personnel: 203 priests (200 diocesan, 3 religious), 327 religious (3 brothers, 324 sisters), 29 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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