First Lady Erdoğan visited the exhibition of photographs taken by İzzet Keribar

Upon her arrival at the Korean War Memorial Museum, where the exhibition is located, First Lady Erdoğan was welcomed by Kim Hea Kyung, wife of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and Museum Director Hyun-Jong Kim.

Speaking at the program, which started with a Korean music recital, First Lady Erdoğan conveyed the love and respect of the Turkish people to the South Koreans, especially South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his wife Kim Hea Kyung, and thanked them for their hospitality.

Expressing her happiness to be in the Republic of Korea, First Lady Erdoğan said that they met at the symbolic place of Korean history on the occasion of "The Birth of a Friendship: 70 Years Ago Korean Exhibition through the Lens of a Turkish Photographer".

Thanking İzzet Keribar, one of the doyens of Turkish photography, First Lady Erdoğan said, "Each photograph he took years ago during his voluntary military service in South Korea is a witness to history as well as their artistic value. I find it very valuable to organize such a meaningful exhibition, especially on the 69th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Republic of Korea. I wholeheartedly congratulate our Presidential Communications Directorate, our exhibition curator and everyone who contributed." he said.

First Lady Erdoğan stated that Türkiye and South Korea are parties to a very special friendship that is rare in history and made the following statements:

"Despite the distance of thousands of kilometers between our countries, our hearts are always one and together. Because we established our friendship with real sacrifices and an exemplary struggle, shoulder to shoulder, in a very difficult period of history. More than 21 thousand Turkish soldiers we sent to the Korean War won the hearts of the Korean people with their military successes as well as with their humanitarian efforts behind the front to heal the wounds caused by the war in society. On this occasion, they rest in their eternal rest on Korean soil." "I commemorate our beloved martyrs and deceased veterans with mercy and gratitude. May their souls rest in peace."

Expressing that one of the most valuable legacies left to them by martyrs and veterans is undoubtedly blood brotherhood, First Lady Erdoğan said, "We must keep this legacy alive, especially tell it to the younger generations, and keep it alive in the memory of humanity. Because memory, that is, what we choose to remember and what we choose to forget, is a founding force that shapes our present. As we turn our face to the history of war, destruction and polarization, we will be unable to see the virtuous examples that illuminate the path of humanity." he said.

Reminding that wars and conflicts continue in this age, First Lady Erdoğan said, "We need stories more than ever that will inspire goodness and peace to humanity again and remind them that they are brothers. We, as Turkey and South Korea, wrote such a story. We reminded that humanity is a big family spread across the earth. We showed with our actions that we feel the pain in our own hearts if anyone from this family is oppressed. The photographs in our exhibition collection also testify to this fact." he said.

Source: TRT Haber Açık RSS (Gündem) (Open Press / Translated Full Text)