Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | A biography chronicling the life of Bishop Barthélemy Bruguière (1792–1835), the first bishop of the Korean Catholic Church and the first Vicar Apostolic of Joseon, has been released--18 years after the writing process began.

On September 20, the Martyrs' Commemoration Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul celebrated a "Mass closing the Month of Martyrs" at the Seosomun History Museum in Jung-gu, Seoul, followed by a publication ceremony for 'Biography of Bishop Bruguière, First Vicar Apostolic of Joseon' (639 pages), published by the Catholic Publishing Company.

The Mass was presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Job Yobi Koo of the Archdiocese of Seoul.
Attendees included Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, former Archbishop of Seoul—who had personally visited and paid his respects at the Magaja Village in China, where Bishop Bruguière passed away in 1835—along with clergy and lay faithful.

This biography is the fruit of 18 years of work by Professor Cho Hyun-beom of the Academy of Korean Studies, who began writing it in 2008 at the suggestion of parishioners from Gaepo-dong Catholic Church (where Father Yeom Su-ui was the pastor at the time).

Although the writing process was occasionally delayed by university lectures and research projects, Professor Cho utilized his 2023 sabbatical year to personally visit sites across the globe bearing the bishop's footprints—including Bangkok (Thailand), Penang (Malaysia), Singapore, Macau, and Les Arcs-sur-Argens (France)—to verify historical materials. This book was finally published after the manuscript was completed last October, coinciding with the 190th anniversary of Bishop Bruguière’s passing.

The book vividly recounts the arduous journey the bishop undertook to enter Joseon following the establishment of the Vicariate Apostolic of Joseon on September 9, 1831. Notably, it objectively examines—through historical records—the long-held belief that Portuguese missionaries in China obstructed his entry, revealing the underlying factors: conflicting views on jurisdictional authority and situational misunderstandings. It also highlights how the bishop proactively designated Bishop Imbert as his successor to ensure the future of the Joseon Church.

Bishop Bruguière passed away at the age of 43 in Magaja, Inner Mongolia, just steps away from the Joseon border. Although he never set foot on Joseon soil during his lifetime, the path he paved enabled subsequent missionaries to enter the country and laid the groundwork for the eventual emergence of Fathers Kim Dae-geon and Choe Yang-eop.
The Archdiocese of Seoul is currently pursuing the beatification of Bishop Bruguière; having concluded the diocesan-level inquiry, they are now preparing for the review process by the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Following the Mass, attendees held a celebratory reception to share the joy of this publication, which represents the culmination of 18 years of effort.