Whenever I pass through Yeouido, the subtly exotic Ankara Park (Sister Park) catches my eye. Established on May 1, 1977, to commemorate the sistership between Seoul and Ankara, this cozy space stands as a lasting symbol of friendship.
The spirit of connection goes beyond Seoul. During a recent visit to Turkey, I stayed in Ankara where there was the Korean War Memorial nearby Korea Park. Inaugurated in 1973 and renovated in 2010, the monument honors Turkish soldiers who sacrificed their lives for South Koreans’ freedom during the 1950-53 Korean War. Paying my respects there was a moving reminder of our ties forged in sacrifice.
The relationship between Korea and Turkey is often described as a “brotherhood forged in blood,” a phrase that carries far more weight than diplomatic courtesy. At the heart of that bond stands Brig. Gen. Tahsin Yazıcı (1892-1971). His outstanding leadership during the Korean War transformed a military deployment into an enduring partnership between two nations. His legacy continues to resonate today. Most recently, the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs honored him as the “Korean War Hero of the Month” for January 2026 — a tribute to both his battlefield valor and humanitarian vision.
He is especially remembered for two defining contributions: the defense at the Battle of Kunu-ri, north of Pyongyang, which helped save the U.S. Eighth Army from destruction, and the founding of the Ankara School, an orphanage which provided care and education to hundreds of displaced Korean children.
In October 1950, Yazıcı arrived at Busan to lead the Turkish First Brigade. A veteran of the Gallipoli Campaign (1915-16), where Ottoman forces defended their homeland, he brought to Korea the hard-earned experience and resolve shaped in that historic battlefield.
Standing before his 5,000 troops on Korean soil, he gave a simple command: “Protect Korea as you would your own homeland.” During the retreat from North Korea, his brigade held the line at the Battle of Kunu-ri near the Chongchon River, now in North Korea, serving as the rearguard for the U.S. Eighth Army. Despite heavy casualties, Turkish forces launched fierce bayonet charges that bought vital time to prevent the front from falling and gave the U.N. troops time to regroup.
Yet Yazıcı understood that preserving a nation required more than military success. Under his leadership, the Turkish Brigade established the Ankara School in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, for war orphans, in a philanthropic spirit that transformed compassion into action. The school offered shelter, education and dignity. This act of compassion earned the Turkish soldiers a place in Koreans' hearts.
Today, Yazıcı is remembered in Korea as a commander and a brother. He fought for a distant land as though it were his own, transforming shared sacrifice into enduring kinship. His courage and compassion shows how history can become family.
Turkey’s contribution to the Korean War was significant. Nearly 20,000 Turkish troops served — the fourth-largest force under U.N. Command. At the Battle of Geumyangjang-ri, near Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, Turkish soldiers surmounted heavily fortified enemy position, boosting morale at a critical juncture in the war.
Beneath the Galata Bridge, Istanbul moves like a symphony — fishermen arc-casting lines, the scent of grilled sea bass drifting in air and ferries carving white wakes across the Bosphorus.
Source: Korea Times News
