Jeonju Central Cathedral is being considered as the 7th national registered cultural heritage in Jeonju City.

Jeonju City announced on the 7th that it plans to register the Jeonju Central Cathedral, which has been in use as the main cathedral of the Jeonju Diocese of the Catholic Church since its completion in 1956, as a national registered cultural heritage.

The city stated that once the Central Cathedral is finally registered as a national cultural heritage, they plan to establish a comprehensive redevelopment plan through consultations with the Cultural Heritage Administration for systematic and efficient preservation, management, and utilization.

The comprehensive redevelopment plan, which will focus on preserving the original form of the cultural heritage, will be pursued based on academic research and verification to maintain the authenticity and value of the cultural heritage, ensuring a rational harmony between preservation and utilization.

The city plans to secure the necessary budget based on this redevelopment plan once it is approved by the Cultural Heritage Administration for the annual implementation plan.

In related news, the Jeonju Central Cathedral was completed in 1956 in response to the increasing number of Catholics in the 1950s, and since 1957, it has served as the main cathedral of the Jeonju Diocese, replacing the Jeonju Jeondong Cathedral.

Being the first autonomous diocese main cathedral in the country, it holds significance, and it is highly valued for the involvement of architect Kim Sung-geun, who served as the inaugural president of the Jeollabuk-do Architectural Society, in its design, as well as the intact original design drawings.

Notably, it features a spacious worship space with a unique wooden truss structure at the roof's upper part, without any columns inside. This unique structure not only demonstrates the technological level of that time but also sets it apart from other cathedrals.

The Cultural Heritage Administration recommended the preservation of essential elements such as the upper part of the bell tower, the roof wooden truss, circular windows and entrances, and artificial stone finishes for the preservation of the heritage value. Essential preservation elements are structures or elements that must be preserved for the conservation of the cultural heritage value and were first introduced by the Cultural Heritage Administration in September 2024.

After a 30-day registration notice period, the Jeonju Central Cathedral is expected to be registered as a cultural heritage following the collection of opinions and the designation of essential preservation elements with the owner's consent.

Once the Jeonju Central Cathedral is registered as a national cultural heritage, Jeonju will possess its 7th national registered cultural heritage, following the Shinheung High School Auditorium and Main Building Porch in 2005, Park Da-ok in Jungang-dong, Chinese shops in Daga-dong, the Main Building of Jeonbuk National University, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Jeonbuk National University, and the Central Library of Jeonbuk National University.