The archbishop of Seoul, Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, has been named a cardinal by Pope Francis.

The 71-year-old Yeom will be Korea's third cardinal after the late Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan and Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk. Yeom succeeded Cheong in 2012.

Pope Francis announced the list of 19 new cardinals on Sunday, local time. This marks his first appointment of cardinals since he became pope in March last year.

The pontiff will officially appoint his choices on February 22nd at a consistory in Vatican City in Rome.

Among the 19 prelates, Yeom and 15 others are younger than 80 years old and eligible to elect the next pope in the papal conclave.

The number of cardinals worldwide now totals 218 of whom 123 are under 80.

The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea Bishop Peter Kang U-il said the Catholic community joyfully welcomes Yeom’s appointment. He said he believes the appointment reflects the pope's wish that the Korean church will contribute more to the Asian and global Catholic body.

The Archdiocese of Seoul also welcomed the news, saying the appointment is a call for the Catholic Church to be with the poor and marginalized.

Yeom was born into the family of a Catholic martyr in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province in 1943. He graduated from the Catholic University of Korea's seminary and was ordained a priest in 1970.

He then served as assistant or chief priest in various Seoul cathedrals as well as secretary general of the Catholic University Songsin Theological Campus and secretary general of the Archdiocese of Seoul.

He was ordained a bishop in 2002, and has since served in various capacities and leadership posts including board chairman of Pyeonghwa Broadcasting Corporation.

He was named the 14th archbishop of Seoul in May 2012, succeeding Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk.

Korea's third cardinal appointment comes only after eight years since the second cardinal Cheong was named.

This time around, Korea and the Catholic country the Philippines were the only Asian nations to see a new cardinal.

Korea is rare in the global history of the Catholic Church in that a voluntary faith community was birthed in the late 18 century led by lay believers.

Korea is active in overseas missionary work and ranks 8th or 9th in the world in terms of financial contribution to the Vatican.

The latest appointment is believed to reflect Korea's heightened status and a wishful call for the Korean church to play a bigger role in the region and the world.