Renowned South Korean Catholic Leader Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae Passes Away

Renowned Figure in the South Korean Catholic Community, Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae, Passes Away

Seoul, South Korea – Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae, a prominent figure in the South Korean Catholic community, passed away on October 27th. His funeral will be held on October 30th at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul.

A Life Dedicated to Faith and Education

Born in 1925 in Jeongju County, North Pyongan Province, Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae was ordained as a priest in 1953. He obtained a doctoral degree in philosophy after studying at the Pontifical Urban University and Gregorian University in Rome. He also studied philosophy at Columbia University in New York, the University of Munich, and S.J. Philosophy College.

From 1961 to 1984, Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae served as a professor at the School of Theology at the Catholic University of Korea, holding positions such as vice dean and dean of the graduate school. He then worked as a professor at Sogang University from 1992 to 2009 and was appointed as a Monsignor in 2005.

A Questioning Mind that Stimulated Thought

Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae was known for his intellectual exploration and thought-provoking questions. He famously posed 24 questions to the founder of Samsung Group, Chairman Lee Byung-chul, regarding the existence of God, the nature of suffering, and the presence of evil in the world. Unfortunately, Monsignor Jeong passed away before he could receive answers from Chairman Lee.

During his lifetime, Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae did not hesitate to express his opinions to former presidents such as Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak.

A Final Farewell

The funeral Mass for Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae will take place at 10:00 AM on October 30th at Myeongdong Cathedral. The Mass will be presided over by Bishop Jeong Soon-taek and attended by clergy members. Rev. Jeong will be laid to rest in the priest’s cemetery within Seoul Archdiocese Yongin Park Cemetery.

The South Korean Catholic community mourns the passing of Rev. Jeong Jeong-chae and will remember and commemorate his contributions to faith, education, and intellectual discourse.