By Lee Jon Young

 

“Türkiye and Korea have gained great momentum in commercial and military relations as well as our tourism relations throughout the last 70 years,” said Ambassador H.E. Murat Tamer on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye on Oct. 30, 2023.

 

Delivering a speech at the Turkish national day reception held at Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Ambassador Tamer said, “Turkish Airlines, which has the world's largest network of destinations, operates 11 flights a week between Seoul and Istanbul, and this number increases to 22 with Korean companies. We expect more flights between Türkiye and Korea and more tourists to visit our countries mutually.”

 

 

Noting that Turkish and Korean companies have undertaken very large mega projects successfully, especially in the recent period, Ambassador Tamer said, “We will realize very large projects for the welfare and happiness of our countries and our peoples.”

 

The gala reception was attended by more than 300 distinguished guests from the Korean government and various other segments of Korean society and also by the ambassadors and other senior officials from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. 

 

Among participated foreign ambassadors in Seoul were Amb. Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega of the Philippines, Amb. Songkane Luangmuninthone of Lao PDR, and Amb. Chring Botumrangsay of Cambodia.

 

 

From the distinguished Korean guests were Minister Park Min-shik of the Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs of the Republic of Korea and various leading figures from all walks of life, including President Kim Ji-young of Global Culture & Economy Link and Vice President Lim Yuni of Hancom in Space.

 

Delivering a congratulatory speech, Minister Park Min-shik said, “The Republic of Turkiye, founded 100 years ago, has upheld the value of freedom and democracy since the very beginning of its history. It also demonstrated its prominence on the international stage after becoming a founding member of the U.N. and the OECD in 1945 and 1948, respectively.”

Minister Park also added, "Korea is particularly happy about the prosperity of Turkiye because Turkiye is Korea's 'Kankardes.’ As you know, we shed blood together during the Korean War.” 

 

 

The following is the full-text of the speech by Ambassador H.E. Murat Tamer of the Republic of Türkiye

His Excellency Minister of Veteran and Patriot Affairs, Minister Park,
Our dear guest General Director of Turkish Radio and Television, Mr. Mehmet Zahid Sobacı and his delegation,
My dear colleagues Ambassadors, 
Dear guests and friends,

 

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful evening with us, 

100th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic. 
A very special and a wonderful day for us.
The day we waited for so long to celebrate.

We are full of joy, happiness and pride.

 

 

If you kindly allow me I would like to continue in Turkish from now on.
At the beginning of my remarks, I would like to thank Kibar Holding for their great contribution to the realization of this evening.
I would also like to thank Alpedo restaurant for never leaving us alone in any event and for serving Turkish delicacies to our guests.

Dear esteemed guests, today we are indeed in a state of great excitement and enthusiasm.
The Republic of Turkiye, founded by the Great Atatürk, is exactly 100 years old. 
Congratulations and many more 100 years.

 

 

Under the leadership of our President H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are starting the Century of Türkiye and we are taking firm steps towards the path of modern civilization drawn by Great Atatürk.
We look at our past with pride and our future with confidence.

I had watched the 50th anniversary ceremonies of our Republic with my father at the Ankara Hippodrome, 
On the 100th anniversary, I am celebrating here in Korea, a friendly and brotherly country, together with you, our dear friends and fellow Koreans.

 

 

 

Korea is a very special country for us and Koreans are a nation very close to us.
The relations between Turks and Koreans actually do not go back to 60-70 years before, but have begun about 1500 years ago.

Our peoples have lived side by side in the northern lands, in the steppes of Central Asia together and in peace for many years and fought against common enemies. 
Our traditions and cultures, even our languages, have intermingled and our peoples have sometimes established kinship.

 

 

For this reason, Mehmetçik, who set foot in Korea during those painful days of the Korean War, actually did not come to help an unknown nation they did not know, but to help an old friend, who was recorded in his DNA codes from the past, on a difficult day. 

And for this reason, the heroic Mehmetçik defended these lands as if they were his own homeland, and although we lost nearly 1000 martyrs, we have always been proud of contributing to the liberation of a friendly and brotherly nation.

Today, Korea has won the admiration of everyone as one of the most modern, democratic and liberal countries and one of the ten largest economies in the world. As well, it has won the love of all of us, young and old, with its wonderful soft power.

We are also proud of the achievements of our blood brothers and sisters.
The Republic of Turkiye has also made remarkable progress during its first 100 years, becoming one of the world's leading countries with its democracy, industry, economy and other development moves, supporting the poor, the oppressed, the orphaned and those in difficult situations without discriminating religion, language, race and color, not only in its region but also anywhere in the world, always standing on the side of the righteousness and justice, reassuring its friends as a strong and just state and "someone for those who have not someone".

The cooperation of the two friendly and brotherly countries in every field has continuously increased throughout the last 70 years. Our trade volume has reached 10 billion dollars as of 2022, and our commercial and military relations as well as our tourism relations have gained great momentum.
Turkish Airlines, which has the world's largest network of destinations, operates 11 flights a week between Seoul and Istanbul, and this number increases to 22 with Korean companies.

We expect more flights between Türkiye and Korea and more tourists to visit our countries mutually.

Distinguished guests,
Turkish and Korean companies have undertaken very large mega projects, especially in the recent period, and have successfully completed and delivered many of them ahead of time.

We are just ahead of very important investment moves that will bring Türkiye and Korea closer to each other. In the coming period, our bilateral relations will gain more momentum with high-level visits, and we will realize very large projects for the welfare and happiness of our countries and our peoples.

Our horizons and dreams are very big, but what Türkiye and Korea have done and can do together encourages us and motivates us to work harder.

As I conclude my speech, I bow with gratitude and respect in front of Great Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms who founded the Republic of Türkiye and all the heroes who were martyred and veterans for the protection and preservation of our Republic, and I wish mercy to those who have passed away and a speedy recovery to our veterans.

May the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye be blessed and the beginning of the Turkish Century be auspicious.
Be entrusted to Allah.
Yours respectfully.