A K-Classic concert was held at CSO ADA Ankara in celebration of South Korea’s National Day and Armed Forces Day. The evening featured pianist Clara Mijung Shin, tenor Alex Kim, and soprano Jay Yang performing select classical music pieces.
Haşim KILIÇ
THE event was hosted by South Korea’s Ambassador to Ankara, Jeong Yeondoo, and was attended by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Deputy Minister of National Education Celile Eren Ökten, numerous foreign mission representatives, and guests.
COOPERATION IN MANY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Speaking at the reception before the concert, Minister Alparslan Bayraktar noted that the history between the two countries spans many years and stated that Türkiye recognized Korea as an independent state in 1949. Bayraktar emphasized that the Korean War of 1950-1953 brought the two distant nations closer. He mentioned that the two countries cooperate in many international organizations and highlighted that over 200 Korean companies, including South Korea’s global firms, have invested around 450 million dollars in Türkiye. He stressed that it would be beneficial for both countries if these Korean companies, leveraging Türkiye’s geostrategic position, further developed their investments with their Turkish partners.
Celile Eren Ökten, Jeong Yeondoo
EMPHASIS ON GLOBAL PEACE AND STABILITY
Bayraktar highlighted the strong cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy and said, “In this context, we hope that cooperation with South Korea, especially in renewable and nuclear energy, will lead to concrete partnerships. The Joint Economic Commission meeting, which we aim to hold this year, will provide an opportunity to comprehensively address relations in the fields of economy and energy. As two countries directly affected by regional tensions and crises, Türkiye and Korea have the groundwork to develop closer and stronger partnerships to ensure global peace, stability, and development. In this regard, I would like to emphasize our desire to advance our relations with Korea in the upcoming period within the framework of our Asia Anew Initiative, based on the mutual interests of our peoples.”
COMPLEMENTARY ECONOMIES
Korean Ambassador Jeong Yeondoo said that since he started his mission in Türkiye, he has been impressed by the strength of the brotherly ties between the two countries. The ambassador noted that Türkiye’s dynamic young population and strong industrial infrastructure complement their economies, providing a synergistic and historically significant partnership.
Ambassador Yeondoo stated that the bilateral trade volume has exceeded 10 billion dollars and expressed hope that this figure will continue to grow in the future.
GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE
Touching on regional problems, Yeondoo said, “Given Türkiye’s geopolitical importance, our cooperation is vital to addressing global challenges. Together, we will continue to promote peace, prosperity, and shared progress for future generations. I hope the friendship between Korea and Türkiye continues to grow stronger every day.”
CLASSICAL COMPOSITIONS PERFORMED
Following the reception, a concert featuring Korean artists Clara Mijung Shin on piano, tenor Alex Kim, and soprano Jay Yang was held in the Blue Hall of CSO ADA Ankara. They performed distinguished works of classical music.
