

Biographical History
Feb. 21, 1947 | Born in Mokpo, Jeonnam |
Feb. 1966 | Graduated from Salesian High School in Gwangju |
Jul. 1975 | Graduated from Daegeon Major Seminary in Gwangju (Gwangju Catholic University) |
Jul. 5, 1975 | Ordained to the Priesthood |
Sep. 1976 - Jun. 1986 | Studied and Held a Doctorate in History of Church from the Pontifical Gregorian University |
SJul. 1975 - Jan. 1976 | Parochial Vicar of Gyeongdong Parish of Gwangju |
Jul. 1975 - Jan. 1976 | Spiritual Director of Retreat Center (House of Medication) of Gwangju |
Feb. 1983 - Jan. 2002 | Taught at Gwangju Catholic University (Major Seminary). Chancellor of the above University |
Feb. 2002 - Jul. 2003 | Pastor of Geumho-dong Parish of Gwangju |
Jun. 24, 2003 | Elected to the Titular See of Corniculana, as Auxiliary Bishop of Gwangju |
Aug. 18, 2003 | Consecrated as Bishop |
Aug. 2003 - Mar. 25, 2010 | Vicar General of the Gwangju Archdiocese |
Oct. 14, 2004 - present | President of the Committee for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) |
Oct. 14, 2004 - Mar. 10, 2010 | Member of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine of the CBCK |
Oct. 2006 - Dec. 31, 2018 | Member of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC - OEIA) |
Oct. 15 2007 - present | Member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue |
Feb. 26, 2008 - present | Member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity |
Oct. 16, 2008 - present | Member of the Special Episcopal Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization of the CBCK |
July 10, 2009 | Promoted to Coadjutor Archbishop of Gwangju |
Oct. 13, 2009 – Oct. 12, 2011 | Auditor of the Catholic Conference of Korea (CCK) |
Mar. 10, 2010 – Mar. 9, 2015 | Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine of the CBCK |
Mar. 25, 2010 | Succeeded to Archbishop of Gwangju |
Mar. 25, 2010 - present | Member of the Episcopal Commission for Clergy and Religious of the CBCK |
Mar. 25, 2010 - present | Member of the Special Episcopal Commission for the Reconciliation of the Korean People of the CBCK |
Apr. 30, 2010 | Took possession of the See of Gwangju |
Oct. 12, 2011 – Oct. 30, 2014 | Member of the Permanent Council of the CBCK |
Oct. 30, 2014 –
Oct. 14, 2020 |
President of the CBCK & Chairperson of the CCK |
Mar. 9, 2015 – present | Member of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine of the CBCK |
Mar. 22, 2017 –
Oct. 14, 2020 |
President of the Committee for Catholic Terminology of the CBCK Moderator of the Emmaus Center of the CBCK |
Jan. 1, 2019 - present |
Chairman of FABC-OEIA |
Jan. 1, 2019 - 2020 |
Standing Committee Regional Convener for East Asia of the FABC |