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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Splendor of Music Reinforces Special Korea-Turkey Ties

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, ‘Kang Eun-il and Haegeum Plus’ staged a performance at Anadolu Auditorium in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2010. This event served as an opportunity to commemorate Turkey’s Korean War veterans and their families, along with offering a rare form of musical entertainment for the residents of Turkey.



The special performance of ‘Kang Eun-il and Haegeum Plus’ was jointly organized by the Korea Foundation, along with the Korean Embassy and Consulate-General in Turkey, in cooperation with governmental and private organizations, including Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Government of Istanbul Province, Municipal Government of Istanbul, and the Turkish Veterans Association. The event’s success was also attributed to the dedicated efforts of ethnic Korean residing in Turkey and their related organizations.

Pride in Korean Culture
While leaving a deep impression on all of the audience, Kang Eun-il and Haegeum Plus performed their elegant style of fusion music and harmonious melodies, with a combination of traditional Korean and Western musical instruments. They expressed Korean sentiments through graceful dance and the vibrancy of Korea’s instrumental music, which disbursed lyrical tones among the audience, from a stage area that was highlighted by a rainbow of colors and lighting effects. The performance revealed the unique melodies and distinctive style of the group’s Korean music, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Prior to the concert, several Turkish broadcast media requested permission to video tape the performance. TRT, the national TV network of Turkey, and various Internet media were especially eager to provide coverage of the event. The Turkish media scurried about as they conducted interviews of Ms. Kang Eun-il, and her manager Han Man-ju, as well as Korean Ambassador to Turkey Bae Jae-hyun, Korean Consul-General Hong Jong-kyoung, Korean War veterans, and supporters of Korean culture, for comments about Korea’s cultural development and the fast-growing economic relations between Korea and Turkey.
After the performance, a young man from the audience, who said he was half Korean, was overwhelmed with emotion by the splendor of Korean music, especially the presentations of “Arirang” and “Doraji.” He admitted to his eyes being filled with tears of joy and having a strong sense of pride in his Korean heritage, thanks to this chance to personally experience the richness of Korean culture. In addition, the Turkish Assistant Minister of Culture and Tourism highly praised the performance, along with expressing support for the promotion of further cultural and artistic exchange between Korea and Turkey.



Striking a Resonant Chord
Also of note, the audience burst into thunderous applause when Kang Eun-il, halfway through the program, addressed the audience with a well-known quote from Atatürk, the first President of Turkey, who once declared: “Happy is he who can say ‘I am a Turk.’” This tribute was an of the Korean people’s gratitude for the Turkish troops who came to the support of Korea during the Korean War, and especially those that made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula. As a result of this “blood brother” alliance, the peoples of Korea and Turkey have enjoyed an unusually close kinship and mutual respect.
Following the performance, the Turkish veterans of the Korean War, local residents, and Koreans residing in Istanbul, all took photos of the performers and each other, amidst an atmosphere of camaraderie. Indeed, it was a heartfelt experience to see the now elderly veterans proudly wearing their service medals, while beaming with joy. A number of other members of the audience came by to congratulate the performers, along with mentioning their involvement with Korea and appreciation for Korean culture. A female employee of a financial firm in Istanbul served as a staff volunteer for the event. Along with explaining that she had developed a keen interest in Korea after taking Korean language classes at the Korean Cultural Center, she mentioned what a great honor it was for her to provide assistance to the Korean performers. She added her hope of having another opportunity to support some future similar activities. The recent concert in Turkey was a notable success due to the high level of professionalism of Kang Eun-il and Haegeum Plus, whose elegant performances never fail to leave a positive and lasting impression on foreign audiences, together with the comprehensive assistance provided by the Korea Foundation, in conjunction with the Korean Embassy and Consulate-General in Turkey, as well as the dedicated endeavors of the Korean residents and organizations in Turkey.
Above all, I am truly grateful for the Government of Turkey’s support and cooperation for the successful hosting and presentation of this cultural exchange project, while also looking forward to continued Korea-Turkey exchange of culture and the arts, as an enduring of the special bonds between our two peoples and countries.

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