Andrew Yeom Soo-jung
A Korean cardinal who became a symbolic shepherd for a divided nation, holding a title that bridges Seoul and the silenced Catholics of Pyongyang.
Born 1943 (age 83)·Archbishop of Seoul from 2012 to 2021·Birthday: December 5·The Silent Generation
Biography
Andrew Yeom Soo-jung's leadership has been defined by a map that doesn't yet exist: a unified Korean peninsula. Born in Japanese-occupied Seoul, he entered the priesthood and steadily rose through the ranks, known for a gentle demeanor and a steely commitment to social justice. His appointment as Archbishop of Seoul in 2012 came with a uniquely poignant charge: he was also named the Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, giving him a pastoral responsibility for North Korean Catholics he could not physically visit. Created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014, Yeom used his platform to tirelessly advocate for reconciliation, human dignity, and peace, often speaking of the Korean people as 'one family'. His tenure blended the daily governance of a major archdiocese with the prophetic, hope-filled task of representing a church in waiting, making him a living symbol of faith in the face of division.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Andrew was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elevated to Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014, becoming the third Korean to receive the red hat.
- Served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Pyongyang, a symbolic role representing pastoral care for Catholics in North Korea.
- Led the Archdiocese of Seoul through a period of growth and oversaw significant pastoral initiatives, including large youth rallies.
- Served as the chairman of the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation (CPBC), leveraging media for evangelization.
Did You Know?
His cardinalatial motto is 'Omnia in caritate' (All things in charity).
He is a descendant of the Korean Catholic martyr Paul Yun Ji-chung.
He offered his resignation as Archbishop upon turning 75 in 2018, but Pope Francis asked him to continue until 2021.
He presided over the beatification of 124 Korean martyrs in 2014, a major event for the local church.
““We are one family. The pain of division should be healed through dialogue and reconciliation.””
