Kilfenora’s Korean Connection

Photo: canva.com/James Lucian

The year 1974 was a turbulent one for the Catholic Church in South Korea, particularly in the Diocese of Wonju. The country was under a repressive military dictatorship that sought to crush political dissent and restrict the freedoms of ordinary citizens. Church leaders, students, academics, and even ordinary workers were regularly surveilled, interrogated, and, in many cases, imprisoned simply for speaking out.

One of the most courageous voices during this time was that of Bishop Daniel Tji Hak Soun of Wonju. He had long advocated for human rights and dignity, and he did not shy away from publicly condemning the regime’s abuses. For this, he was arrested, tried by a military court, and sentenced to eight years in prison for allegedly violating national security laws. His arrest sent a chilling message to others who dared to challenge the government, and his imprisonment became symbolic of the broader oppression facing the Korean people.

At the time, I was working in Korea and had the privilege of knowing and working alongside Bishop Tji. His arrest hit me hard. When I became due for vacation, Cardinal Kim, recognising both the gravity of the situation and the opportunity my travels might afford, encouraged me to go to the United States and seek the support of influential Church leaders there.

During my visit to the United States, I met with three eminent cardinals. Each listened politely as I explained the situation in Korea and pleaded for them to use their influence to advocate for Bishop Tji’s release. While they expressed concern, I left with little more than polite assurances. Only the Cardinal Archbishop of New York offered meaningful support. He promised to raise the issue with contacts at the United Nations, which gave me a glimmer of hope.

Still, as I made my way back to Ireland, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged. Bishop Tji remained in prison, and despite my efforts, I feared I had accomplished very little. I knew first-hand the harsh conditions he would be enduring and how isolating such imprisonment could be.

During my vacation in Ireland, I visited the family home of a Columban Sister who was then serving as a medical doctor in a hospital in Mokpo, Korea. Her hometown, Kilfenora in County Clare, is best known for its rich tradition of Irish music - but during that visit, it became the setting for something quite unexpected.

While sitting in the pub owned by the Sister’s father, I overheard a conversation in a nearby corner. One of the men had an American accent. Curious, he came over and asked if I were the local priest. I explained that I was a Columban missionary on leave from South Korea, which piqued his interest immediately. He told me that his son had been killed in the Korean War and that he remained deeply invested in Korean affairs.

As we continued speaking, I shared with him the situation facing the Church in Korea, particularly the persecution of those who stood up for justice. I told him about Bishop Tji’s arrest and imprisonment. He listened intently. Then he introduced himself as Tady Gleeson. He had been born in Toomevara, County Tipperary, and had emigrated to the United States at seventeen. After working as a docker in the Brooklyn Docks, he attended night school, became a lawyer, and eventually rose to the powerful position of President of the International Longshoremen’s Association.

“I have the power to close the docks in Inchon and Pusan,” he said, speaking of the two major South Korean port cities. It was a bold statement and not a boastful one - he was revealing the extent of his influence.

Before we parted, he told me he would follow up on the matter when he returned to New York. He also mentioned that he had contacts in the US State Department and would do what he could to bring attention to the bishop’s case. Some weeks later, I received a package from New York. Inside was a signed copy of his autobiography, Men Along the Shore. Along with it was a letter he had sent to General Alexander Haig, White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, as well as a copy of a letter he had written directly to the President. To my great surprise, the package also included a copy of President Ford’s reply, in which he assured Mr Gleeson that he would raise the matter of Bishop Tji with the South Korean government during his forthcoming visit.

A few months later, news came through that Bishop Tji had been released. Although his health had deteriorated in prison, his release was greeted with great joy. He returned to a hero’s welcome from his people and resumed his ministry with quiet strength and renewed resolve.

This entire episode reminded me of how God can work through the most unexpected encounters. Sometimes, when we least expect it, we meet people whose paths cross with ours for a reason. Kilfenora may seem like an unlikely place to influence events on the other side of the world, but that little village in County Clare became a pivotal part of a greater story.

It is a powerful reminder that when we speak up, even to strangers, our words can plant seeds of change. Sometimes, the most unassuming conversations can help move mountains. And sometimes, the hand of God is most visible in the quiet serendipity of human connection.

In loving memory of Columban Fr Michael O'Loughlin who lived and worked in Ireland, Korea and the USA.