By LiCAS.news
In a historic milestone bridging two centuries of Catholic heritage across East and Southeast Asia, the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Archdiocese of Bangkok have formally joined hands to promote the cause of beatification and canonization for Bishop Barthélemy Bruguière, MEP (1792–1835).
On the afternoon of Oct 22, 2026, at the Archbishop’s Office in the Seoul Curia, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul and Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok signed a “Joint Declaration on Cooperation,” pledging mutual spiritual solidarity and collaborative historical research to honor the pioneering French missionary.
“I am deeply grateful and delighted that the Archdiocese of Bangkok and the Archdiocese of Seoul can unite in this joint initiative to honor Bishop Bruguière,” declared Archbishop Chung during the signing ceremony.
The joint initiative reflects a profound historical bond. Nearly two centuries ago, Bishop Bruguière—a member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (Missions Étrangères de Paris or MEP)—was ordained as auxiliary bishop in Siam (now Thailand).
After five years of dedicated apostolic service in the kingdom, his missionary zeal impelled him to volunteer as the first Apostolic Vicar to Korea, then a hermit kingdom marked by severe persecution.
Though he endured a grueling overland journey across China toward his destination, Bishop Bruguière died near the Korean border in 1835 before ever setting foot in the country.
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