When the district priests' meeting ended, the priest of Imsil Parish gently handed the columnist an invitation. During the ‘Imsil N Cheese Festival’, a bazaar was held at the parish. When he studied abroad in Rome, it was not easy to eat cheese with a ‘spicy smell’, but now his taste buds have become quite accustomed to the various types of cheese produced in Imsil, ‘the birthplace of Korea’s first cheese.’
To avoid the crowds at the event he visited Imsil parish with believers on the last day of the festival. What welcomed us at the entrance of the church were photographs and records showing the late Father Jeong Ji-hwan (1931-2019) when he became pastor of the Imsil Parish in 1964.
Born in Belgium, his real name was Didier t’Serstevens! After the Korean War, Korea was poor he volunteered to go to Korea, saying he wanted to help Koreans. He spent his youth in Korea and accomplished things on his own that no other Korean could do.
The man who enriched the local development and residents' lived by making cheese with the residents in his poor and barren Imsil. He is always given the title 'Father of Imsil Cheese' and 'Father of the Disabled Families'. He was truly a shepherd who devoted himself to serving his flock.
"The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. I have come so that they may have life and have it overflowing." ( John 10:10-11) But trials and suffering followed. "I was born naked into this world, and I will return naked. What you gave, you take back; just praise your name. If we have received something good from God, how can we reject it because it is bad?" (Job 1:21; 2:10b) ( The missioner had to deal with many health problems and died in Korea).
After the meal, he went to the church to pray, and the photos of the town of Imsil at the time of the priest's appointment were displayed in the yard, the making of cheese, the shape of the cheese at the time, the construction of the factory, the young people working with Imsil Cheese, the place they stored the cheese, and the current Imsil Cheese. He looked closely at the theme park photos. The believers, who were at one time ashamed of his past achievements learned much that they never knew before and gave thanks to him.
The columnist also visited the ‘Cheese Historical and Cultural Space’ in Sangseong Village, for the first time. The first cheese factory was built there and was restored last year.
The priest, who started with two goats as a gift and succeeded in making cheese in 1967 after three years of failure, went on to successfully produce camembert cheese in 1968 and cheddar cheese in 1970, supplying them to Chosun Hotel and Shilla Hotel. He fostered a cooperative along with raising dairy cows and began full-scale production through a cheese factory, distributing the profits evenly to the residents. In 1981, as the cheese business grew, he allowed the residents to run the factory themselves and operated the business for 17 years and left with only one bag.
The Cheese Priest said: "The brand known as the origin of Korea’s cheese was not just acquired; it was created with community spirit, sacrifice, and passion with a desire to live well together through cooperation with Imsil residents."Afterward, in Soyang, Wanju-gun, in 1984 he established ‘Rainbow House’ for the severely disabled, and served there for a while. He helped people who were unaware of the rights they should enjoy or who had given up because life was too painful. He was there to help them find their place in the world, to live together with others, and to help them pioneer their own lives!
The columnist misses the Cheese Priest who is no longer with us after giving many people a reason to hope as we celebrate the holy month of mourning. May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
