Bishop of Uijeongbu
Benedictus Son Hee-Song was born on January 28, 1957, in Chadari, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province—territory that was then part of the Archdiocese of Seoul and is now part of the Diocese of Uijeongbu. He pursued his studies at the Major Seminary of Seoul (1975–1979) and in Innsbruck, Austria, where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology (1986) and subsequently a Doctorate (1992). He was ordained a priest on July 4, 1986, and incardinated into the Archdiocese of Seoul. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1986–1992: Doctoral studies in Austria; 1992–1994: Parish priest in Yongsan; 1994–2012: Lecturer at the Major Seminary of Seoul (Catholic University of Seoul), Director of the Seminary Library, and Head of the Department of Informatics; 1999–2007: Member of the Commission for the Review of Publications; 2007–2013: Deputy Director of the Commission for the Review of Publications; from 2012: Director of Archdiocesan Pastoral Affairs, Member of the Presbyteral Council, Member of the Pastoral Council, Member of the Commission for the Ongoing Formation of the Clergy, Member of the Commission for Foreign Missions, Member and Deputy Director of the Commission for the Preservation of Sacred Martyrdom Sites in Seoul, and Member of the Commission for the Management of the Seoul Day-Care Center for the Elderly; from 2013: Head of the Catholic Women’s Association and Member of the Commission for the Review of Advertising in Catholic Media; from 2014: Head of the Planning and Coordination Committee for the Pope’s visit to Korea (August 14–18, 2014). He also held positions within the Bishops' Conference: 2004–2005: Member of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith. From 2005 to 2012: Secretary General of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith; since 2005: Representative of Seoul and Member of the Episcopal Commission for the Causes of Beatification and Canonization; since 2012: Secretary General of the Episcopal Commission for the Lay Apostolate.