Bishop Simon Kim Jong-Gang

Archbishop-elect Simon Jong-Gang Kim was born on 2 January 1965 in the diocese of Cheongju. After attending the major seminary of Daegu, he was awarded a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of Daegu. He subsequently obtained a licentiate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome. He was ordained a priest on 28 June 1996 for the diocese of Cheongju. He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Seoundong, diocese of Cheongju (1996-1997) and of Heungdeok, diocese of Cheongju (1997-1999); parish priest in Haksan, diocese of Cheongju (1999-2001); vice rector of the Pontifical International Missionary College of Saint Paul the Apostle in Rome (2005-2010); director of youth pastoral ministry (2010-2013); parish priest of Gyemyeong (2013-2015); lecturer and spiritual director of the major seminary of Daejeon (2015-2020); and bursar of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) (2020-2022). He was appointed bishop of Cheongju on 19 March 2022, receiving episcopal consecration on the following 2 May. Within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea he has served as member of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine of the CBCK (2022-2023); since 2022, member and subsequently chair of the Special Episcopal Commission for the Promotion of Beatifications and Canonizations of the CBCK; since 2023, president of the Episcopal Commission for Youth Pastoral Ministry of the CBCK and member of the Episcopal Commission for the Mission and Pastoral Ministry of the CBCK.