College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 22.02.2014]

Notice: the biographical notes are only a working instrument for the press.

Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul (Korea), was born on 5 December 1943 in Ansong, diocese of Suwon, into a Catholic family of five generations. He studied in his homeland.

He was ordained a priest on 8 December 1970 in Seoul.

After his ordination, he served in the following roles: deputy priest in two parishes (1971-1973), professor and dean of the Songshin High School(minor seminary), (1973-1977), and priest in three further parishes (from 1977 to 1987); procurer of the major seminary in Seoul (1987-1992), chancellor of the archdiocesan Curia (1992-1998); parish priest and vicar forane in Mok-dong (1998-2001); and member of the board of priests.

On 12 December 2001 he was appointed auxiliary of the archdiocese of Seoul and assigned the titular see of Tibiuca. He received episcopal ordination on 25 January 2002.

On 10 May 2012 he was appointed archbishop of Seoul.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 22 February 2014, of the Title of San Crisogono.