The remarkable story of Irish Catholic missionary Patrick James McGlinchey, who dedicated his life to lifting Jeju Island out of poverty, is being brought to wider attention through a new documentary film. Known affectionately as the "Pig Father" or "Pig Priest," McGlinchey spent over six decades transforming the lives of Jeju residents through innovative farming programs and community development initiatives.
The 30-minute documentary titled "Do You Know the Pig Priest of Jeju?" was recently selected as one of 22 winners in a video content competition organized by Arts Council Korea (ARKO). The film premiered at the Korean Film Archive alongside other award-winning works, with ARKO providing funding for the project. Director Kwag Tae-gwan, a media artist, was inspired to create the documentary after discovering McGlinchey's story during a work trip to Jeju Island.
"When I visited Jeju for work last year, I learned about him for the first time. I was shocked that I had never heard of him and wanted to tell his story," Kwag explained. "St. Isidore Farm is a popular place in Jeju and attracts many tourists. I hope more people will watch the film and learn about the priest and the great things he did for the island."
Father McGlinchey, known in Korea as Im P.J., arrived on Jeju Island in 1954 as a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban. Born in 1928, he witnessed firsthand the devastating poverty that gripped the island following the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Rather than simply providing temporary aid, McGlinchey focused on empowering local residents to become self-sufficient through modern farming techniques and cooperative work initiatives.
The documentary chronicles how McGlinchey established St. Isidore Farm in 1961, which became the cornerstone of his poverty alleviation efforts. At the farm, he bred local pigs and distributed them to island residents, enabling them to generate sustainable income. The operation expanded dramatically over the years, eventually housing more than 1,000 pigs along with hundreds of cows and sheep. This livestock distribution program earned McGlinchey his nickname as the "Pig Father" and fundamentally changed the economic landscape of Jeju.
McGlinchey's vision extended far beyond agriculture. Recognizing that young women were leaving the island in search of employment opportunities, he launched a wool weaving factory that provided jobs for approximately 1,300 local women. This initiative not only stemmed the outflow of young talent but also established a thriving textile industry on the island.
The missionary's community development efforts continued to expand throughout his decades of service. He founded a community bank to make financial services more accessible to islanders who had previously been excluded from traditional banking systems. Additionally, McGlinchey established an elderly care facility that continues to operate today, providing free care for terminally ill patients and serving as a model for compassionate healthcare in the region.
Those who knew Father McGlinchey personally remember him as a man of extraordinary dedication and humility. "People who knew the priest all admired his deep love for people and his perseverance. He endured many hardships but was determined to improve the lives of Jeju residents. He achieved so much, yet never wanted recognition, believing he was simply doing what God asked of him: to love others as God loves you," one interviewee shared in the documentary.
McGlinchey's impact on Jeju Island was so profound that he spent the remainder of his life there, never returning to Ireland. When he passed away in 2018 at the age of 90, the Korean government posthumously granted him honorary Korean citizenship in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the island and its people. His legacy continues through the institutions he established, which remain active pillars of the Jeju community.
Today, St. Isidore Farm continues to operate under the leadership of Father Michael Riordan, a fellow priest and veterinarian who took over McGlinchey's mission after his death. The farm now focuses on cattle and native horses while producing milk to help fund the hospice facility that McGlinchey founded.
Director Kwag acknowledged that the 30-minute format was insufficient to capture the full scope of McGlinchey's remarkable life and achievements. "I had to cut out so many parts. I want to say thank you and sorry to those who shared their memories with us during the making of the documentary," he said. The documentary will be made available to the public on the inmun360 YouTube channel in early December, alongside other winning entries from the ARKO contest, ensuring that McGlinchey's inspiring story reaches a broader audience both in Korea and internationally.
