Cheong Jin-suk briefly studied chemical engineering at the
Seoul National University before entering the
seminary in Seoul, from where he later obtained his
bachelor's degree in theology, in 1954. After studying
sociology in Hong Kong, he was
ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Paul Roh Ki-nam on 18 March 1961 at the Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul. Cheong then did
pastoral work in Seoul until becoming a professor at its
minor seminary and
notary of its
archdiocesan curia in 1962. He was
chancellor of the curia and
undersecretary of the Catholic Conference from 1964 to 1965, and episcopal chancellor and vice-
rector of the Minor Seminary from 1966 to 1967. He then earned a degree in
canon law, studying at the
Pontifical Urban University, from October 1968 to 1970. On 25 June 1970, Cheong was appointed the second
Bishop of Cheongju by
Pope Paul VI. He was the youngest bishop in Korea at the time. In addition to his duties in Seoul, he was made
Apostolic Administrator of
P'yong-yang on 6 June of that same year.
Pope Benedict XVI created him
Cardinal-Priest of
Santa Maria Immacolata di Lourdes a Boccea in the
consistory of 24 March 2006. Cheong was appointed to the executive committee of the
Pontifical Council for the Family on the following 6 May, and to the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See on 3 February 2007. He was later appointed a member of the
Pontifical Council for Social Communications. On his 80th birthday, 7 December 2011, Cheong lost his curial memberships. His resignation as archbishop was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on 10 May 2012 and he was succeeded by
Andrew Yeom Soo-jung. Cheong died at
Saint Mary's Hospital in Seoul at the age of 89 on 27 April 2021. He had celebrated sixty years of his priesthood the previous month. He had been admitted to hospital on 21 February with critical health issues such as breathing difficulties and a slight fever and his successor Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung administered the
Anointing of the Sick on 22 February. By the first week of March, Cheong's condition seemed to improve upon the removal of life-sustaining equipment, barring the
intravenous, with reports that his
blood pressure and oxygen levels were gradually returning to normal. He was adamant that he would not have any surgery, nor would he remain connected to any equipment that would prolong his life. He also signed up for organ donation in the event of his death. ==References==