Donation of 1 billion won honors Cardinal Chung’s legacy, supporting Seoul’s World Youth Day 2027 and inspiring youth through faith and hope.
Newsroom (06/05/2026 Gaudium Press )In a gesture that bridges remembrance and forward-looking mission, the Cardinal Chin-Suk Chung Mission Support Association has donated 1 billion won to support the 2027 World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul, marking the fifth anniversary of the late cardinal’s passing.
The donation was formally delivered on April 29 at the bishop’s residence in Hyehwa-dong, Seoul. Present at the meeting were Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong, who leads the association, and Father Heo Young-yeop, its chairman. They met with Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek, head of the Seoul WYD organizing committee, and Bishop Lee Gyeong-sang, the event’s general coordinator.
Cardinal Yeom framed the contribution as both a tribute and a message to the younger generation. “I hope this event conveys the hope given by God to you young people,” he said, recalling the late Cardinal Chung’s oft-repeated words: “Live happily. What is done to make you happy is God’s will.” He expressed the wish that youth participating in the global gathering would embrace lives rooted in joy and faith.
Archbishop Jeong, in accepting the donation, highlighted the continuity of leadership behind Seoul’s selection as host city. “Hosting Seoul WYD is the fruit of Cardinal Yeom’s long-standing efforts,” he said, adding that the event would be more than a large-scale gathering. He emphasized a vision of spiritual transformation: “I will ensure that Seoul WYD does not stop at being a large-scale event, but becomes a journey where the fire of the Holy Spirit burns within young people, from the preparation process to the time after the event.”
The association behind the donation was established in accordance with Cardinal Chung’s wishes, with seed funding provided by the late actress Kim Ji-young. It has since supported 54 organizations and missionaries working among communities affected by war, disaster, poverty, and marginalization, both domestically and internationally.
Cardinal Nicholas Chung Jin-suk, born on December 7, 1931, in Seoul, is remembered as a central figure in the modern Korean Catholic Church. Ordained in 1961, his decades-long ministry spanned roles as educator, canon law scholar, bishop of Cheongju, and later Archbishop of Seoul. Appointed cardinal in 2006, he also served in key Vatican bodies and national episcopal leadership positions.
His pastoral motto, “Omnibus Omnia” — “All things to all people” — defined a ministry marked by wide-ranging commitments. He prioritized evangelization and the growth of the Catholic faithful, authoring and translating around 60 works, primarily on canon law and catechism. He was also a prominent advocate for life, placing pro-life issues at the center of pastoral work and launching initiatives such as the Committee for Life in 2005.
Equally significant was his dedication to social outreach. As bishop of Cheongju, he helped establish Kkottongnae, now the largest church-run social welfare facility in South Korea, serving the most vulnerable populations.
Cardinal Chung also placed strong emphasis on reconciliation and peace on the Korean Peninsula. From 1998 to 2004, he led the Korean bishops’ efforts toward national reconciliation, work that later contributed to the establishment of the National Reconciliation Center near the North Korean border.
He served as Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang until his resignation in 2012 and passed away on April 27, 2021.
The recent donation, made in his memory, reflects both his enduring influence and the Church’s commitment to shaping a spiritually meaningful World Youth Day in Seoul—one that carries forward his vision of faith, service, and unity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Times of Korea
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