St. Maximilian M. Kolbe Province in South Korea 
Mother Province: Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy) 

“When will the Immaculata rule this magnificent country [Korea] and introduce here the Kingdom of her Son?” These were the closing words of a letter St. Maximilian M. Kolbe wrote on August 31, 1930. In his letter, he describes his long, twelve-day journey from Poland to Japan. Kolbe was surprised to discover that the city of Busan, Korea, had six churches, all Protestant. In fact, there were only three Catholic churches in all of Korea. His words were prophetic. Nearly thirty years later, Friar Vittorio COSTANTINI, then Minister General, summoned Friar Francesco FALDANI, who had been expelled from China a few years earlier, and entrusted him with organizing the mission in Korea. Friar Francesco FALDANI arrived in Busan on October 6, 1958, together with Friar Andreas HO, a new Korean priest. The Bishop of Busan entrusted them with the pastoral care of the Church of St. Anthony, a parish that was in an industrial district at the time and had four thousand Catholics.
The Order blossomed in Korea. The friars began ministering to lepers. They founded an orphanage for the children of lepers together with the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi.  Vocations began to blossom as well. In 1975, the mission became a Custody. In 2001, it was elevated to a Province.

Today, the Jurisdiction has sixty-one solemnly professed friars, thirteen simply professed friars and nine friaries.

Seoul – Hannam Dong: St. Francis Friary and International Parish
This friary serves as the headquarters of the Province. The friars minister in Korean, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German and French. They carry out vocation animation and run an international nursery school, a retreat house, and the national center for the Militia of the Immaculata (M.I.) and for the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS).

Yangpyeong: St. Paul Chung Ha-Sang Friary
This friary serves as a spiritual retreat house. The friars conduct various social and pastoral activities, including crafts and agricultural activities.

Busan: St. Anthony of Padua Friary and Parish
The friars are entrusted with the pastoral care of the parish. They operate a kindergarten and the Francis House for the Disabled.

Incheon: St. Clare Friary and Parish
The friars are entrusted with the pastoral care of the parish and conduct various social, charitable and spiritual activities in the area.

Ganghwa: St. Peter Yoo Dae Cheol Friary
The friary serves as a post novitiate formation house for philosophy and theology studies. The friars are in charge of formation.

Daegu: Immaculate Conception Friary and St. Joseph Parish
This friary serves as a novitiate.

Ilgwang: Most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Friary and Parish
The friars minister to lepers and carry out various social and pastoral activities.

Gimpo: St. Andrew Friary Kim Tae Go`N
The friars offer pastoral service in the area; they also operate a home for the disabled.

Torrance, California-USA: St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary and St. Francis Korean Center
The friars are entrusted with the pastoral care of Korean immigrants in the area. They conduct various pastoral activities with the Catholic Center for Immigrants, the OFS and the M.I.

Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Mission Animation