On Christmas Day, December 25, 2023, the documentary film titled “Five Belgian-Korean Stories” was screened at the AFI-ICA center in Hap-Jeong-Dong, Seoul. The film, created by Belgian director Thierry Loreau, will be broadcast in Korea and Belgium. The audience included AFI-ICA members residing at the center and 11 foreign guests from the USA. The film’s duration was 1 hour and 20 minutes. Marie-Helene, who is a major character of the film, introduced its content briefly.

The documentary portrays five Belgian-Korean personalities, each with distinct reasons for leaving their homelands for other countries. Doctor Marie-Hélène Brasseur (Bae Hyung Jung, Korean name), the director of AFI Jeon Jin Sang Hospital, and the late Father Didier t’Serstevens (Ji Jung Hwan), a priest of Societas Auxiliarium Missionum (SAM) who introduced cheese to Korea, left Belgium to live in Korea as missionaries. Their goals were clear – to contribute to Korea. Fr. Didier (Ji Jung Hwan, Korean Name), who arrived in Korea in 1959, initiated the cheese industry to generate income for rural people devastated by the war. Dr. Marie-Helene, who came to Korea as a nurse in the 1970s, settled in an urban poor area, responding to the needs of the people who migrated from rural areas. She eventually became a medical doctor, playing a central role in the film.

The hallmark of this documentary lies in the juxtaposition of the two sets of individuals. The missionary duo willingly came to Korea as part of their mission, clear in their identities as disciples of Jesus. As missionaries, their clear identity allowed them to respond to the demands of those in need.

In contrast, Ms. Cathy Min Jung, director of the Rideau of Brussels, and Mr. Degeimbre Sang Hoon, the restaurateur of “air du temps,” were sent to Belgium to be adopted when they were small babies. The film explores their journey to discover their own identities despite being abandoned and sent away.

Between these two contrasting narratives stands Julian Quintart, an ecological influencer and broadcaster, almost like a famous television star. His motivation to come to Korea is entirely different from the other four individuals. Attracted to Korea’s high social, cultural, and economic development, Julian lives in Korea following his values, akin to how he lives in Belgium. The film aims to convey the existence of values like life-long dedication, participation, originality, and cultural roots. The overarching value that integrates all these is universality.

We recommend watching the film. It might be an excellent choice.