Top Stories 24/08/12 Benedictine monks’ photos depict Korean life, culture

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Benedictine monks’ photos depict Korean life, culture

Photos were taken by Benedictine monks who worked in Korea as missionaries in the early 20th century

A foreign missionary priest is seen with Korean youth in a photo preserved by Benedictine monks. The year and photographer are unknown. (Photo: The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation) 

By UCA News reporter

Published: August 16, 2024 11:02 AM GMT

Updated: August 16, 2024 11:06 AM GMT

Benedictine monks in Germany have made public their historic photo archives that depict the life, culture, and evolution of Korea over the span of a century.

Archabbot Jeremias Schröder of the Saint Ottilien Archabbey in Eresing, Germany has recently opened the photo archive for public view.

Schröder paid a visit to South Korea recently. During an event at St. Benedict Monastery in the capital Seoul on Aug. 12, he highlighted the historical values of the photos.

“As we studied the various materials in the photo archive, we discovered not only images but also stories that connect continents and cultures,” Schröder said.

The photographic archive has been opened for public to allow people to understand “deep connections between church and monastic communities, and the Korean people,” Schröder emphasized.

The photographs are hosted by the GoKorea Foundation on their website for the public to view with the support of the Benedictine Abbey in Wagwan, South Korea.

Kim Jeong-hee, chair of the Korea Foundation for Cultural Heritage gave the survey report on the analysis of 1,874 photographs taken by missionaries who visited Korea since 1909 to Schröder during the event.

The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Korean Church History Research Institute.

The institute’s chairperson, auxiliary Bishop Job Yobi Koo, Father Blasius Park Hyun-dong of the Benedictine Abbey in Wagwan, and researchers in the fields of church history, clothing, and Buddhist history participated in the event.

The photographs included those by Father Norbert Weber (1870-1956), the first superior general of the Ottilien Association of the German Benedictines who visited Korea twice in 1911 and 1925.

Weber had taken a variety of photographs of religion, scenery, and folklore.

The photographs were related to Weber’s “open missionary policy,” wherein he indirectly supported the various needs of local missions and churches in the fields of education, culture, and arts during his tenure.

The event also included various academic presentations on the significance of the photographs to the missionary activities and the culture in Korea.

** This report is brought to you in partnership with Catholic Times of Korea.