Card Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of S. Korea (Profile)

South Korea’s Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, is the first Korean to be appointed cardinal since now retired Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan was elevated to the cardinalship 37 years ago.The 74-year-old prelate is well-known for his commitment to end social inequalities in South Korea. His speeches have frequently touched upon the need for policies that “are closer to people and more attentive to the needs of the weakest strata of the population”. He has also spoken out on the issue of stem cell research, and has stood firm against embryonic stem cell research by scientists like Prof Hwang Woo-suk. Instead Archbishop Cheong has set up a ‘Fund for Life’ to raise money for adult stem cell research. South Korea’s four million-strong Catholic community had been expecting his appointment which has recently become a major topic in local media.