서울대교구 시복시성위원회
(1922-2009)
◇ Birth and Childhood
Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan was born on May 8, 1922 by the lunar calendar (July 2 by the solar calendar) in Daegu (current address of his birthplace: 225-1, Namsan-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu) (Korea) as the youngest child among four sons and two daughters of Joseph Kim Young-seok and Martina Seo Jung-ha. His baptismal name, given at his infant baptism, was Stephen. His clan origin is Gwangsan, and the pen-name he later adopted was Onggee (pot). His birth name was originally “Sou-han”, but it was mistakenly written as “Sou-hwan” on his birth certificate, which he would carry for the rest of his life.
The first person in Stephen Kim Sou-hwan’s family to embrace Catholicism was his grandfather, Kim Yo-an, who was arrested in Yeonsan in Chungcheong-do (currently Yeonsan-myeon, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do) during the Byeongin Persecution of 1869 and died a martyr. His grandmother, Kang Mal-son, was also arrested, but she was released due to her pregnancy and later gave birth to Joseph Kim Young-seok.
Born after his father’s death, Joseph Kim grew up and made a living by selling pottery. He later married Martina, a member of the Dalseong Seo clan, and moved to Daegu, where his wife's family resided, and there they had their youngest child, Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. After that, Joseph Kim lived in Seonsan and then Gunwi, before passing away from illness when Stephen Kim Sou-hwan was in first grade at Gunwi Public Primary School.
From that moment on, life became even harsher for the family. However, his mother remained fully devoted to her children’s faith education. She especially encouraged Stephen Kim Sou-hwan and his elder brother Carlos Dong-han, who was three years older, to “become priests”. At the time, Stephen Kim dreamed of becoming financially independent by running a business and starting a family of his own, but he never had the heart to share this dream with his mother.[1]
◇ Seminary Life and Priestly Ordination
In April 1934, at the age of twelve, Stephen Kim Sou-hwan completed the fifth grade at Gunwi Primary School and transferred to the fifth grade at the Preparatory course attached to St. Justin Catholic Seminary, where his older brother was studying. Two years later, in April 1936, he entered the minor seminary course at Dongsung Commercial School in Seoul. This school’s major course offered a general secondary education curriculum. However, he did not enjoy the highly disciplined school environment, and at one point, he even pretended to be ill in hopes of being expelled.
As time passed and Stephen Kim Sou-hwan reached his third year, he was deeply moved by the stories of various saints, which brought him one step closer to the path of priesthood. Among them, one particular passage from the words of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus resonated deeply with him:
Stephen Kim Sou-hwan graduated from minor seminary in March 1941. He entered the preparatory course at Sophia University in Tokyo that April, and in September of the following year, he advanced to the Department of Philosophy in the college of Liberal Arts. However, in January 1944, near the end of the Pacific War, he was drafted as a student soldier and was unable to receive his diploma.
In September 1947, after returning to Korea following the end of the war, he transferred to Songsin University, the Major Seminary in Hyehwa-dong, Seoul. Around this time, he embraced a pure and sincere passion as a seminarian, and strove to live according to the teachings of “The Imitation of Christ”, which he loved to read almost as much as the Bible. What remained most vividly in his memory from his time at Major Seminary was the ceremony of the Tonsure, and among the words spoken during the rite that day, the phrase “The Lord God is my portion” left a particularly deep impression on him. [3]
After the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, Stephen Kim Sou-hwan escaped to Busan, where he received his final lessons from Bishop John Choi Deok-hong, the Vicar Apostolic of Daegu, at the temporary seminary in Yeongdo. Then, on September 15, 1951, on the Feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows, he was ordained a priest along with his junior, Florianus Cheung Ha Kwon, at Gyesan Cathedral in Daegu. The verse Father Stephen Kim Sou-hwan chose as his ordination motto was “Have mercy on me, O God” (Psalm 51:3).
◇ Brief Pastoral Ministry and Studying abroad in Germany
Father Stephen Kim Sou-hwan’s first pastoral post was Andong Parish (currently Mokseongdong Cathedral). There, using funds he had received from Mgr. George M. Carroll, the representative of the Korean branch of Catholic Relief Services, he repaired the church while generously paying wages to the local residents who came to work. He also provided living expenses to the impoverished faithful inside the confessional, strictly requiring them to keep it confidential. Every evening, he held catechism classes, and whenever someone requested the Sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, he willingly complied.
Around April 1953, just as he began to feel that he had truly become one family with the faithful, Father Stephen Kim Sou-hwan was appointed as secretary of the Vicar Apostolic Bishop John Choi Deok-hong. However, on December 14 of the following year, he suffered the loss of Bishop John Choi, who had been like a father to him, and in March 1955, during Lent, he had to endure the sorrow of his mother Martina’s passing as well.
After being appointed as pastor of Gimcheon parish in June 1955, Father Stephen Kim Sou-hwan served for just over a year, then left for Germany to study in July of the following year. He studied at Münster University, majoring in ‘Christian Sociology’, under the guidance of Professor Joseph Höffner, who had a considerable influence on broadening his perspective on society and on shaping his understanding of humanity and the nation. In addition, the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) also served as an opportunity for him to deeply reflect on the relationship between the Church and society.
In the summer of 1962, Father Stephen Kim Sou-hwan encountered an unexpected obstacle. Professor Joseph Höffner, who had been appointed to diocesan bishop of Münster, had to leave the school. When no successor advisor was assigned despite his long wait, he ultimately decided to give up his degree and returned to Korea in May 1964.
◇ Appointment as the First Bishop of the Diocese of Masan and Episcopal Consecration
Upon his return to Korea, Father Stephen was appointed president of the Catholic Newspaper (currently the Catholic Times). Although it was his first experience with the media industry, he worked with a strong sense of duty and soon developed the conviction that to be a Church for the world, religious media must communicate with the people. Later, reflecting on that time, he recalled it as, “the time I worked with the greatest passion in my life.”
One day in March 1966, Father Stephen Kim Sou-hwan unexpectedly received a message from Archbishop Antonio del Giudice, the papal delegate to Korea, saying, “I would like to meet you, please come to Seoul.” “What could this be about?” The question that lingered in his mind during the journey to Seoul was soon answered when Archbishop Giudice delivered an unexpected piece of news. “As of February 15, 1966, Pope Paul VI (reigned 1963-1978) has separated the Masan region from Diocese of Busan and established it as a new diocese, and at the same time, has appointed you as the first diocesan bishop of Masan.”
Bishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan accepted the Pope’s decision in obedience and set May 31st, the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (now celebrated on August 22), as the date for his Episcopal Consecration. It was because he had been born as a priest on “the Memorial Day of Our Lady of Sorrows”, that he wished to be reborn as a bishop on the final day of the Month of Mary. He decided on “ For you and for many (Pro Vobis et Pro Multis)” as his pastoral motto.[4] It stemmed from the desire to become “bread for all,” offering everything for everyone, just as Jesus gave His body and blood for the sake of all humanity.
The Episcopal consecration and the Installation ceremony of Bishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan as the Bishop of Masan took place at the sports field of Sungji Girls’ Middle and High School in Wanwol-dong, Masan. The main celebrant of the ceremony was Archbishop Giudice. This marked the beginning of his life as a bishop leading a rural diocese with 30,000 faithful and 21 parishes. He frequently met the faithful, making an effort to remind them that the layman, religious and priests are all the same people of God and seeking to awaken them to the calling of the times entrusted to them.
In September 1967, Bishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan attended the First Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, as a representative of Korea, and succeeded in securing the allowance of marriage between Catholics and non-Catholics with dispensation. In December of the same year, when Ganghwa Shimdo Textile Company suppressed the labor union legally formed and led by members of Korean Young Christian Workers (J.O.C), Bishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan actively intervened in the matter as a president of the J.O.C. (Jeunesse Ouvriere Chretienne / Catholic Youth Workers). At that time, he proposed to the college of bishops the convening of special episcopal conference, and on February 9, 1968, proclaimed the Bishops’ Joint Statement on Social Justice and the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Labor Workers. It was the first official declaration by the Catholic Church in Korea in support of human rights and social justice.
◇ Appointment as Archbishop of Seoul and Elevation as Cardinal
In April 1968, Bishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan received a message from Archbishop Ippolito Rotoli, the papal delegate to Korea, and hastily made his way to Seoul. “Congratulation. His Holiness the Pope has appointed you to be the 11th Archbishop of Seoul.” It was, quite literally, a bolt from the blue. Boarding the train back to Masan, he asked both God and himself: “Lord, why do You place upon me a cross too heavy to bear, and send me to a distant and unfamiliar land?”
The bull of Pope Paul VI was dated April 9, 1968. Archbishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan chose as his pastoral motto―“For you and for many (Pro Vobis et Pro Multis)”. The motto, originally adopted at the time of his episcopal consecration was adopted with a slight modifications to its Korean phrasing.
The Installation ceremony as Archbishop of Seoul took place on May 29 at Myeongdong Cathedral. In his homily during the inaugural Mass, Archbishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan spoke the following words, thus setting the course he would follow:
On October 6, 1968, Archbishop Stephen Kim Sou-hwan had the honor of attending and concelebrating with the Pope at the Mass for the Beatification of 24 Korean Martyrs of Byeongin Persecution, held in Rome. However, the national situation at the time was quite difficult. Given the circumstances, he included the following paragraph in the message he issued just before Christmas.
Within a year of becoming Archbishop, Stephen Kim Sou-hwan was created a cardinal by the Pope. His titular church as a cardinal was San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle in Rome. At the time, at age 47, he became the first Cardinal of the Catholic Church in Korea and the youngest of more than 130 cardinals worldwide.
The public consistory took place on April 28, 1969, in Rome. A total of thirty-three individuals were newly appointed to the College of Cardinals, including Joseph Höffner, who had been his mentor during his studies in Germany. Subsequently, on May 1, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan concelebrated a Thanksgiving Mass with His Holiness the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica in honor of his elevation to the cardinalate.
◇ Realizing the Spirit of the Second Vatican Council
It was during his studies in Germany that Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan began to seriously reflect on the Catholic Church’s engagement with real-world issues. Over the course of seven years, while studying Christian Sociology, and learning the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, he developed a profound interest in the relationship between the Church and society. The teachings of Pope John XXIII (reigned 1958-1963), who convened the Second Vatican Council, along with dialogues with German priests, made it clear to him that a spirit of change and renewal was beginning to sweep through the Church.
While serving at the Catholic Times, he worked to ensure that news about the Second Vatican Council was communicated accurately. At the same time, he gave serious thought to how the Catholic Church in Korea should evolve and what reforms were necessary. Upon taking office as bishop of diocese of Masan, he remarked, “Our diocese must strive wholeheartedly to implement the reforms and the pastoral spirit outlined by the Second Vatican Council with the full cooperation of the priests, religious and the faithful.”[7] His emphasis on “the Church in the world” during his installation as the Archbishop of Seoul was also part of the same perspective.
Attending the First Ordinary General Assembly of Synod of Bishops in 1967, and successfully pushing for the approval of marriage between Catholics and non-Catholics with dispensation as well as his active involvement in resolving the Ganghwa Shimdo Textile Company incident, were driven by his determination to realizing social justice in accordance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan could not let go of the conviction that the Church exists in the world and for the world, and firmly believed that “the Church must always remain open to the world.”[8] His core philosophy on this issue is evident in the following declaration of will.
◇ Standing Up to Military Dictatorship
By the 1970s, South Korean society was falling under the control of an ambitious military dictatorship. On July 6, 1974, when Bishop Daniel Tji Hak-soun of Wonju was arrested for allegedly supporting an illegal organization, young priests formed the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice. The National Adult Assembly held at the seminary in Hyehwa-dong on October 9 of the same year eventually developed into a protest against the regime. At a joint prayer meeting of Catholics and Protestants, the “Democratic Declaration to Save the Nation”, which called for the resignation of the regime, was announced; those involved were subsequently arrested. Then, on July 6, 1978, the police beat several priests and left them lying in the street. Whenever such incidents occurred, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan actively sought solutions while resisting the dictatorship of the military regime.
After the long-ruling president was assassinated on October 26, 1979, the military once again seized power. Beginning on May 18 of the following year, the citizens of Gwangju launched the Democratization Movement, which reached its peak with the torture and death of university student Park Jong-cheol on January 14, 1987—an incident the authorities attempted to cover up. Two days later, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan loudly condemned the regime’s brutality during a homily at Mass.
On June 10, 1987, after a rally condemning the military regime, hundreds of students and citizens were driven by police into the precincts of Myeongdong Cathedral. When the police reinforced their policy of forced arrests, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan stood firmly against it. “If you wish to take the students, you must first step over me, then over the priests and the nuns.”[11] In the face of the Cardinal’s resolute tone, the police withdrew their forces and guaranteed the students’ safe return home.
As such, during a dark and oppressive era, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan endeavored to be a lone voice crying out in the wilderness. He persistently opposed the military regime’s brutality and disregard for human rights, and his defiance became a cornerstone in confronting tyranny and reshaping the future of the country.
In fact, he had never considered himself to be progressive or leftist, nor had he ever acted out of political motivation. He simply stood by those called the weak, striving to protect their dignity. He believed that living this way was to follow Jesus Christ who lived surrounded by the poor, the sick, and the sinners, and ultimately gave his life on the altar of the Cross.[12]
◇ Friend to the Oppressed, the Marginalized
As seen in the Simdo Textile incident in Ganghwa, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan showed a deep concern for workers’ rights and social justice from early on. When, in 1978, a crisis broke out at Dongil Textile in Incheon, where the human rights of female workers were severely violated, he made multiple efforts to protect their rights and interests.
In the summer of 1979, the Oh Won-chun Incident occurred in Yeongyang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It was a case in which the police abducted and assaulted Alphonsus Oh Won-chun, a member of the Catholic Farmers’ Association. In response, a protest rally was held in the diocese of Andong, but the police arrested the priests and cracked down on the Catholic Farmers’ Association. Upon hearing the news, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan immediately traveled to Andong, where he strongly condemned the government’s repression of the farmers’ movement.
During the 1970s, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan offered unwavering support and compassion to displaced residents in Yangpyeong-dong, Seoul, and continued his efforts in 1986 for those facing eviction in Sanggye-dong. Following the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store and the Daegu subway fire disaster, he visited the scenes to mourn the victims and share in the sorrow of the bereaved families. He visited Nanjido, then a garbage landfill, and the Magdalene House, a shelter for women involved in prostitution, to offer comfort and solidarity. He also personally experienced the struggles of people with disabilities and coal miners. Yet, he confessed with shame that he lacked the courage to live among them.
Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan grieved over the division and confrontation between North and South Korea and consistently prayed for the oppressed people of the North. Upon his appointment as Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Pyongyang on June 10, 1975, he frequently expressed special affection for the Church and people in North Korea. He also made efforts to invite North Korean faithful to the 44th International Eucharistic Congress held in Seoul in 1989, and in 1995, he established the Korea Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul to take the lead in evangelizing North Korea and supporting its people.[13]
Following the example of Christ, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan sought to become a friend and spokesperson for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. He believed this was the Church’s way of engaging with the world and embodying the spirit of the Second Vatican Council in practice. What would Jesus have done? This was the question Cardinal Stephen constantly asked himself, a prayer that guided him through the turbulent decades of the 1970s and 1980s.
◇ Good Shepherd, Awakened Intellect, Humble Fool
Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan stepped down as Archbishop of Seoul on April 3, 1998. It was the 30th anniversary of his appointment as Archbishop and his 47th year as a priest. Over the years, the Catholic Church in Korea strove to offer strength, courage, and a spiritual refuge to those who were “hungry and thirsty, poorly clad and roughly treated, wandering about homeless” (1 Corinthians 4:11). At the center of all this stood Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan.
In 2007, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan wrote the words “A fool” next to a self-portrait. It was a humble acknowledgment that, while he believed that God is love and truth itself, he had lived without fully realizing this truth in his heart.
Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan passed away on February 16, 2009, at the age of 87. In accordance with his pledge to donate his eyes after death, he gave the gift of sight to two individuals and was laid to rest at the Catholic Priests’ Cemetery in Yongin following a funeral Mass on February 20. During the five-day mourning period, a steady stream of mourners from across the country gathered at Myeondong Cathedral, where the Cardinal’s remains were enshrined, and the number of visitors exceeded 400,000. This demonstrates that he was a religious leader who was loved and respected not only by Catholics but also by the entire Korean people. Just as his episcopal motto “for you and for many (Pro vobis et pro multis)” declared, he lived as a good shepherd and a truly awakened intellect.
- [1]Oral statement by Kim Sou-hwan, edited by Kim Won-cheol. The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan (Revised Edition), Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation, 2009, pp. 50-56. The following content is primarily based on the material from the book above, with references provided only when particularly necessary.
- [2]The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan 3, The Peace Times Vol. 726, June 1, 2003; Ibid., p. 64.
- [3]The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan 12⋅14, The Peace Times Vol. 735⋅737, July 30, 2003, August 24; Ibid., pp. 123⋅135.
- [4]Compilation Committee for Complete Collection of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, Complete Collection of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Vol. 17 ‘“Grains of Words”, Catholic Publishing House, 2001, pp. 250-251.
- [5]“The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan” 26, The Peace Times Vol. 749, November 23, 2003; The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan(Revised Edition), p.211.
- [6]“The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan” 28, The Peace Times Vol. 749, December 7, 2003; Ibid., p. 218.
- [7]Ibid., pp. 175-176, 190-195.
- [8]Complete Collection of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Vol. 15 “Shepherd of the Time 1”, pp. 92-95, 307-312, 468-473, 650-651.
- [9]Complete Collection of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Vol. 12 “The Korean Catholic Church and Evangelization of Korean People”, p. 403.
- [10]The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan 54, The Peace Times Vol. 777, June 13, 2004; The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan (Revised Edition), p. 368.
- [11]The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan 54, Ibid.; Ibid., p. 370.
- [12]The Story of Cardinal Kim Sou-Hwan 37, The Peace Times Vol. 760, February 15, 2004; Ibid., p. 271.
- [13]Catholic Newspaper No. 1084, December 11, 1977; Complete Collection of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Vol. 15 ‘Shepherd of the Time 1, pp. 600-601, 612.
