ASIA/KOREA - Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 14 July 2015 the Holy Father appointed Rev. Benedictus Son Hee-Song, Director of the Department for the Archdiocesan Pastoral, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul (Korea), assigning him the titular see of Campli.
Rev. Benedictus Son Hee-Song was born on January 28, 1957 in Kyenki Yeonchenun Chadari, then the Archdiocese of Seoul and now the Diocese of Uijeongbu. He studied at the Major Seminary in Seoul (1975-1979) and Innsbruck (Austria), where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology (1986) and later a Doctorate (1992).
He was ordained a priest on 4 July 1986 and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Seoul.
Since ordination he has served in the following academic and pastoral roles: 1986-1992: Studies for a Doctorate in Austria; 1992-1994: Parish priest in Yongsan; 1994-2012: Professor at the Major Seminary in Seoul (Catholic University of Seoul), Director of the Seminary Library, Head of the Department for Information Technology; 1999-2007: Member of the Commission for the review of publications; 2007-2013: Deputy Director of the Commission for the review of publications; since 2012: Director of the Archdiocesan Pastoral, Member of the Priests' Council, Member of the Pastoral Council, Member of the Commission for the Permanent Formation of the Clergy, Member of the Commission for Foreign Missions, Member and Vice-director of the Commission for the Protection of Holy Places of Martyrdom in Seoul, Member of the Commission for the management of the daily Assistance Center for the elderly in Seoul; 2013: Head of the Association of Catholic Women; 2014: Responsible for the Planning and Coordination Committee for the Pope's visit to Korea (14-18 August 2014). He also served in the Episcopal Conference: 2004-2005: Member of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith; 2005-2012: 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. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 14/07/2015)