Kim Hyun-gi, Chair of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Meets Mansur Yava?, Mayor of Ankara, to Discuss Strengthening Exchanges

On the 21st at Ankara City Hall, Ankara Mayor (Chairman) and Yang Cities Seek Policy and Cultural Exchange Measures
Revitalizing City Council Delegation Exchanges Suspended Due to COVID-19 and Agreeing on Maintenance of Yeouido Ankara Park
Ahead of June 25, Ankara Korea

Chairman Kim Hyun-gi Meets with Mansur Yava?, Mayor of Ankara

During his official visit to T?rkiye, Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, met with Mansur Yava?, Mayor (Chairman) of Ankara, at Ankara City Hall on the 21st to discuss ways for the two capitals to actively exchange policies, culture, and various other fields.

Before the discussion, Chairman Kim first congratulated Mayor Yava? on his successful re-election in the March local elections in T?rkiye.

Chairman Kim said, “After the election, you said, ‘We will continue to serve Ankara,’ which allowed me to infer how devoted you have been to the citizens,” adding, “With the same heart, I will serve the citizens of Seoul sincerely.”

He continued, “The Seoul Metropolitan Council and Ankara City signed a friendship and goodwill agreement in 1997 and have maintained continuous exchanges for 27 years,” and said, “I hope that the mutual visits between parliamentary delegations, which were suspended during the COVID-19 period, will be revitalized, and that excellent policies and cultural exchanges between the two cities will be actively carried out.”

Mansur Yava?, Mayor (Chairman) of Ankara, said, “Seoul is Ankara’s first sister city, and the sister city relationship has strengthened the bond between the two cities,” adding, “We hope to diversify urban exchanges in various ways for a better life for our citizens in the future.”

Chairman Kim Hyun-gi Expresses Gratitude to Korean War Veterans

Additionally, Chairman Kim and Mayor Yava? agreed on the importance of renovating the aging facilities of Ankara Park in Yeouido.

Ankara Park was established in Yeouido in 1977 to commemorate the sister city relationship between Seoul and Ankara. It houses folk art pieces donated by Ankara City, allowing Seoul citizens to naturally experience Ankara’s culture.

On this day, ahead of the June 25th anniversary, the city council delegation laid flowers at the Korean War Memorial Tower in Ankara Korean Park and expressed gratitude to the attending veterans.

The flower-laying ceremony was attended by veterans Ya?ar Eken (born 1930) and Ali Osman G?m?? (born 1932). Also present were representatives from the Embassy of T?rkiye in Korea, about 30 members of the Turkish military and military band.

The veterans participated in the Korean War as part of the 3rd and 4th contingents from 1952 to 1953.

Chairman Kim held the veterans’ hands and said, “Because you protected the Republic of Korea, it has become the Korea we know today on the world stage,” adding, “Thanks to you, Korea transformed from a ‘recipient country’ to a ‘donor country,’ becoming the only nation in the world to do so,” expressing deep gratitude.

He continued, “As also depicted in the film ‘Ayla,’ the Turkish military did not merely participate in the war but showed humanity by lovingly caring for war orphans,” and said, “We will never forget T?rkiye’s noble sacrifice and hope to develop together through active exchanges in the future.”

T?rkiye was the fastest to respond to the call for participation in the Korean War. Among the 16 participating countries, it deployed approximately 21,000 soldiers to Korea, ranking fourth in troop numbers.

Among them, there were 996 killed or deceased, 1,155 wounded, and 244 prisoners of war, totaling 2,365 casualties?the third highest among participating countries (according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs).

Notably, during the war, T?rkiye built the ‘Ankara School’ and cared for about 640 Korean war orphans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.