Exhibition commemorates Turkish soldiers in Korean War

By Rachel Lee

Turkish Ambassador to Korea Arslan Hakan Okcal hosted a photo exhibition of Turkish soldiers who fought during the Korean War (1950-53) on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea.

At an opening ceremony of the “Turkish Brigade in the Korean War” at the War Memorial of Korea on June 2, the ambassador noted that the Turkish troops’ sacrifices and struggle not only contributed to allied efforts in the war, but also forged a deep-rooted friendship, a “blood-brotherhood.”

Paik Sang-ki, a Korean translator for the brigade over the three years, was also present.

Photos of the Turkish Brigade are on display along with replicas of uniforms worn by the brigade’s first commander General Tahsin Yazici.

Also on display are Turkish flags made by students from Istanbul’s Galatasaray High School and Balikesir Girls High School in northwestern Anatolia.

“The Turkish Brigade, also known as the ‘North Star’, fought gallantly in all major battles of the Korea War starting from late 1950 in Kunuri, a small hamlet in the environs of the Yalu River separating North Korea from China, up to the armistice in 1953, at the Vegas Front,” Okcal said.

“Some of the young soldiers depicted here lost their lives soon after their pictures were taken, like young Lieutenant Mehmet Gonenc, who asked his comrades in arms to shell the hilltop he was holding so he would not die at the hands of the enemy.”

In 1950, responding to the United Nations Security Council decision, Turkey sent a reinforced brigade to fight in Korea under the U.N. Command to defend Korea’s independence, freedom and democracy. Turkey sent 14,936 troops to Korea over the three years.

“Our soldiers fought bravely and suffered high losses,” Okcal said. “In the three years of war, around 1,000 Turkish soldiers lost their lives and close to 3,000 were wounded.”

“Turkish casualties were proportionally the highest among participating nations.”

He said this year marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Korea.

The exhibition runs till Aug. 1.