Father Jinsang Kwak Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Suwon Diocese

Number of Active Bishops in Korea Rises to 24
Total Reaches 42 Including Emeritus Bishops

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Jinsang Kwak (61, baptismal name Germano) as Auxiliary Bishop of the Suwon Diocese.

Father Jinsang Kwak Germano, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Suwon. Provided by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea

The Apostolic Nunciature in Korea announced the appointment on December 20, stating that Father Kwak will now serve as Auxiliary Bishop, assisting the diocesan bishop in the Suwon Diocese.

Bishop-designate Kwak, a native of Suwon, graduated from the Catholic University of Korea's School of Theology and was ordained as a priest in February 1993. He began his ministry as an assistant priest at the Suwon Cathedral Parish and continued his pastoral work at Bundang St. John Parish and Jowon-dong Cathedral Parish, among others.

After earning a master's degree in practical theology and a doctorate in systematic theology from the Catholic University of Paris in France, he returned to Korea and was appointed pastor of Beomgye Parish in the Suwon Diocese in 2005. He later served as professor and president at Suwon Catholic University, and since June 2023, he has been serving as pastor of Seopangyo Parish.

The Auxiliary Bishop is a position that assists the diocesan bishop in the overall administration and pastoral care of the diocese. Unlike the coadjutor bishop, who automatically succeeds the diocesan bishop in the event of a vacancy, the Auxiliary Bishop does not have the right of succession.

With this appointment, the number of active bishops in the Korean Catholic Church has increased to 24, including 3 archbishops and 21 bishops. Including 18 emeritus bishops, the total number of bishops in Korea is now 42.

The Suwon Diocese, established in 1963, is currently led by Bishop Lee Yonghoon, the fourth diocesan bishop. With Father Kwak's appointment, the Suwon Diocese now has two auxiliary bishops, including Bishop John the Baptist Moon Heejong.