Turkish ambassador honors Korean War commander, recalls wartime bond

Turkish Ambassdor to Korea Murat Tamer, right, holds a plaque with Vice Minister of Patriots and Veteran Affairs Kang Yun-jin to honor Turkish commander Tahsin Yazici at the Embassy of Turkey in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin

By Kim Hyun-bin

• Published Jan 21, 2026 1:03 PM KST

Turkey’s ambassador to Korea, Murat Tamer, on Tuesday paid tribute to a Turkish commander whose leadership during the Korean War helped save allied forces and cemented what both countries describe as a lasting “brotherhood forged in blood.”

Speaking at a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Embassy of Turkey in Seoul, Tamer welcomed the ministry’s “Hero of the Korean War of the Month” initiative, which honors one veteran each from Korea and the United Nations Forces.

The ministry selected the late Tahsin Yazici as the Hero of the Korean War for January 2026. Tamer said the recognition preserves the shared memory of a struggle fought “in the name of freedom and peace.”

Born in 1892 in Monastir, now in North Macedonia, Yazici was educated at Ottoman military schools and graduated from Harbiye, the Ottoman military academy, as a cavalry lieutenant in 1912. He fought in World War I and the Turkish War of Independence, later receiving the Independence Medal. In 1934, he established the Turkish Army’s first combat tank unit, helping steer the force toward modern armored warfare.

Promoted to brigadier general in 1949, Yazici was appointed commander of the Turkish Brigade when Turkey decided to send troops to Korea in 1950. They arrived in Busan on Oct. 17, 1950, reequipped with U.S. gear in Daegu and operated under the U.S. 9th Corps with the code name “North Star.”

Yazici’s leadership proved decisive during the Battle of Kunuri in November 1950, when massive Chinese intervention threatened to collapse United Nations lines. Tasked with covering the right flank of the retreating U.S. Eighth Army and 2nd Infantry Division, the Turkish Brigade faced overwhelming odds. With communications cut and terrain unsuitable for defense, Yazici ordered a withdrawal to establish blocking positions. For three days, Turkish troops delayed numerically superior Chinese forces, enabling allied units to withdraw. The brigade suffered heavy losses, including hundreds killed, missing or wounded.

Despite those losses, the brigade regrouped and won a major victory at Kumyangjang-ni on Jan. 25–27, 1951, using a bayonet charge to dislodge fortified Chinese positions held by forces several times their size. Their success helped dispel the belief among UN troops that Chinese forces were “unstoppable.” The brigade later received the U.S. Distinguished Unit Citation and Korea’s Presidential Unit Citation, while Yazici was awarded the U.S. Silver Star.

During Chinese offensives in the spring of 1951, the Turkish Brigade defended the approaches to Seoul along the Han River, helping prevent a broader breakthrough.

Known for a “fatherly” command style, Yazici often remained at the front with his soldiers and emphasized the human cost of war. He supported humanitarian efforts, including the opening of the Ankara Orphanage and School in Suwon for Korean war orphans.

Promoted to major general in 1951, Yazici retired the following year due to age limits, later serving as a lawmaker. He died in 1971.

At Tuesday’s ceremony, Kang Yun-jin, vice minister of patriots and veterans affairs, presented a commemorative plaque honoring Yazici, saying the monthly recognition program reflects South Korea’s commitment to honoring those who defended freedom during the war.

“By remembering Korean and United Nations veterans together, we ensure that their sacrifices and the values they upheld are passed on to future generations,” Kang said.

Tamer said the plaque symbolizes not only individual valor but the unshakable friendship between Turkey and Korea, rooted in shared sacrifice during the war.