Roman Catholic Cardinal. "The Conscience of an Era" who played a key role in helping South Korea transform itself into democracy, Stephen Kim Sou-hwan was born in Daegu, then Japanese Korea, nowadays South Korea, the youngest of eight children of a poor and devout Catholic family. His grandfather, John Kim Bo-hyeon, died while in prison after being persecuted for being a Catholic. Entering the seminary in his native city, he underwent further studies at the Catholic University of Sophia, Tokyo, Japan, between 1941 and 1944. Temporarily sent to train as a student soldier, when the Korean War ended he returned to his studies, this time at the Catholic University of Korea. Ordained priest on September 15, 1951, he was soon assigned as secretary to the bishop of Daegu. Director of the diocesan newspaper "The Catholic Shilbo" from 1947 till 1956 and again between 1964 and 1966, in the meantime he underwent further studies in theology and sociology at the University of Münster from 1957 until 1964. Elected the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Masan by Pope Paul VI, he received his episcopal consecration on May 31, 1966 from Msgr. Antonio del Giudice. Following the resignation of Archbishop Paul Marie Kinam Ro, Kim was appointed his successor as archbishop of the metropolitan see of Seoul on April 9, 1968. The named Pontiff created him cardinal priest in the consistory of April 28, 1969 with the title of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle, becoming thus the first South Korean Cardinal. Apostolic administrator of Pyeong Yang, North Korea, between June 10, 1975 and 1998, the Cardinal was never able to visit the see in person due to the peninsula's division and constraints on worship there. Retiring from the pastoral government of his see on April 3, 1998, Kim was a renowned advocate of human rights, who creating a religious organization in 1995, hoped for the reunification of the two Koreas. Admitted to Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul in July 2008, the Cardinal passed away on Monday, February 16 of the following year at 6.12 pm., Korean time, of a combination of old age and a history of frail health. In accordance with his wishes, his eyes were donated to two patients awaiting cornea transplants. The body of the late Cardinal lies buried in the Catholic Priests Cemetery in Yongin.