25/09/26 South Korea hosts first meet on Korean Catholic culture

The Church aims to showcase Catholic life and culture in the country as part of the wider national culture<div class="figure-img" data-ke-type="image" data-ke-style="alignCenter" data-ke-mobilestyle="widthOrigin"><img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/dfc7dfdd8d7714948525aed373d7ef572a0849c1" class="txc-image" data-img-src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/dfc7dfdd8d7714948525aed373d7ef572a0849c1" data-origin-width="960" data-origin-height="500"></div>Visitors look at traditional artwork by Korean Catholic artists on display at the Youth Cultural Space in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 26. (Photo: <a href="https://www.ucanews.com/-%20https:/www.catholictimes.org/-/raw/srv-catholictimes/data2/content/image/2025/09/29/20250929500013.jpg" target="_blank" class="ke-link">Catholic Times of Korea</a>)<div class="figure-img" data-ke-type="image" data-ke-style="alignCenter" data-ke-mobilestyle="widthOrigin"><img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/a30ed2e4954093a57ce197c66edd18442d7d40eb" class="txc-image" data-img-src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/a30ed2e4954093a57ce197c66edd18442d7d40eb" data-origin-width="171" data-origin-height="171"></div><a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.ucanews.com/author/uca-news-reporter" target="_top" class="ke-link">By UCA News reporter</a>Published: October 01, 2025 12:04 PM GMTUpdated: October 01, 2025 12:21 PM GMT A Catholic research institute in South Korea has held its first-ever conference on Korean Catholic culture, highlighting the harmonious relationship between Catholicism and the country’s wider society. The Korean Catholic Culture Research Institute organized the First Seoul K-Catholic Festa from Sept. 26–28 at the Youth Cultural Space in Seoul.Organizers described the event as a cultural evangelization project aimed at shaping a “K-Catholicism that lives and moves within Korean society” without becoming detached from it. Father Kim Min-soo, head of the institute, said the initiative builds on its intergenerational pastoral journey. “The Festa will continue in the future to uncover more meaningful aspects of K-Catholic culture,” he added. The conference featured seminars and exhibitions, with Catholic artists showcasing traditional Korean lacquerware, paper crafts, calligraphy, and other works. Cultural performances also highlighted the blending of Catholic faith and Korean tradition. Architect James Lim Geun-bae, in a seminar titled “Catholicism alive and moving within Korean culture,” cited the <a href="https://www.ucanews.com/directory/dioceses/korea-chuncheon/336?utm_source=in-pg-referral&utm_medium=in-pg-referral&utm_campaign=in-pg-referral&utm_id=in-pg-referral" target="_blank" class="ke-link">Diocese of Chuncheon’s</a> Juklimdong Cathedral as an example of openness in Korean Catholic architecture. He noted that courtyards and external spaces in old churches reflect a uniquely Korean approach to sacred buildings.<div class="figure-img" data-ke-type="image" data-ke-style="alignCenter" data-ke-mobilestyle="widthOrigin"><img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/9e933c5916b565668accbf8b2f40666b28c7cafe" class="txc-image" data-img-src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/9e933c5916b565668accbf8b2f40666b28c7cafe" data-origin-width="675" data-origin-height="125"></div>Cultural experts from fields such as music, art, literature, and social media also shared their perspectives on establishing a distinctive K-Catholic culture. On Sept. 28, the institute staged a musical performance, “Future for the Flowers,” which combined traditional and contemporary Korean music with Catholic themes. Young musicians presented collaborations of popular, sacred, and traditional pieces, symbolizing transformation and renewal. Several Catholic organizations also ran exhibitions and interactive booths at the venue.