The Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop and General Vicar of Seoul, announced that the Archdiocese of Seoul will hold a biennial 'Catholic Art Competition' from next year in a press interview on September 29, 2008.

This competition is aiming for:

- arousing public interest in sacred arts;

- facilitating the public understanding for the Catholic Church and ecclesiastical history;

- providing the Catholic faithful with spiritual assistance;

- promoting the exhibition of the works of sacred arts.

The theme of the first competition is 'the Martyrdom.' The applicants must materialize the 103 Korean saints and the 124 Korean martyrs, who are now under the process for the promotion of beatification and canonization. The application will be accepted on and after March, 2009. From October 6 to 16, 2009, the finished works should be submitted. On December 1, 2009, the names of the prizewinner will be announced and the award ceremony will be held on December 8, 2009. Two Grand Prix winners will get the prize of 50 million Won respectively. In all, 17 winners will be awarded the prize of 250 million Won. The prizewinning works will be exhibited and kept in the Museum of Korean Catholic Martyrs at the Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine.

Bishop Yeom, who is also the executive chairman of the Catholic Art Competition said, "The Catholic Church must be properly concerned about the local culture. ······ I hope many national and international artists participate in this competition with enthusiasm and present their artworks of proper religious sensibilities."