* New Coadjutor Archbishop of Kwangju

On July 10, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Most Rev. Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, Auxiliary Bishop of Kwangju, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of the same archdiocese having the right of succession.

Archbishop Kim said at the press conference on July 10, "I humble myself before the grave duty bestowed on me, just as I was appointed as a bishop in 2003. However I am convinced that God prepares everything for me when I entrust everything to God's will."

Since his episcopal consecration in June 2003, he has served as the Auxiliary Bishop of Kwangju, assisting the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju. He has committed himself to the unity of the Church and interreligious dialogue, as president of the Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue of the CBCK since 2005 and as a member of the Office of Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs of the FABC since 2006. He is also a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue since 2007 and of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 2008.

The installation of the Coadjutor Archbishop of Kwangju is scheduled in September.

With this appointment, the Catholic Church in Korea has now one Cardinal, five Archbishops and twenty five Bishops.