Presidents of the Catholic universities in Korea had a meeting at the Maria Hall of Catholic University Assembly Hall in Seoul on November 12, 2009, and decided to establish the 'Council of the Presidents of the Catholic Universities', issuing a declaration on the establishment.

In the declaration entitled 'We will play a leading role in the formation of truly talented persons who can serve the society', they said, "We are concerned to see many universities tend to indulge in egoistic attitude on the pretext of their development, renouncing the idea of education of the whole person. …… It has come to time for the Catholic universities to declare the education of the whole person as a categorical imperative, aiming for the formation of the talented persons who can serve his or her neighbour and local society, in accordance with the divine plan of creation."

The presidents manifested, on the one hand, their resolution to join forces of the Catholic universities and, on the other hand, plan for joint enterprise for the development of the Catholic universities, aiming for the realization of the formation of the whole person.

Besides, the Council has Fr. Johan Pahk Yeong-sik, President of the Catholic University of Korea, as its first president. Fr. Pahk said, "The establishment of the Council will provide a significant opportunity for the true solidarity of Catholic universities."