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 underscored the strong collaboration between Turkey and South Korea in the energy sector, stating, “We are optimistic that our cooperation, particularly in renewable and nuclear energy, will lead to tangible partnerships. The upcoming Joint Economic Commission meeting, which we aim to hold this year, will provide an opportunity to comprehensively address our economic and energy relations. As two countries directly impacted by regional tensions and crises, Turkey and Korea have the potential to build closer, more robust partnerships to promote global peace, stability, and development. In this context, I would like to highlight our commitment to advancing our relations with Korea shortly, particularly through our Asia Anew Initiative, which is rooted in the shared 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.
