New Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul

     On May 10, 2012, Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Seoul, was appointed as the new Archbishop of the same archdiocese and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang.

     The newly appointed Archbishop Yeom  succeeds Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Seoul was accepted by the Holy Father. It is said that Cardinal Cheong expressed his intention to resign since 2006 when he turned 75.

     Archbishop Yeom was born in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province in 1943, and was ordained as a priest in 1970. In 2002, he was appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul.

     In his remarks at the announcement event, Archbishop Yeom said, "I am so overwhelmed that I take tremendous responsibility succeeding Cardinal Cheong. I will always try to listen to the opinions of diocesan priests and the faithful with open mind. I will also pay more attention to work for the Pro-life and Mission ministry, the pastoral aims of Cardinal Cheong."

     On June 15, 2012, the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, the farewell mass for Cardinal Cheong is scheduled. Following this, there will be an installation Mass for Archbishop Yeom at the Myeong-dong Cathedral in Seoul on June 25, 2012.