Modern-day South Korea owes to Turkey: Defense attache

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu

ANKARA (AA) - If it was not for Turkey's help during the Korean War, South Korea would not exist in its current form, the defense attache of the South Korean Embassy in Ankara said Thursday.

“If [Turkey’s] help didn’t come then, today’s South Korea would not exist. Our nation is always grateful to Turkish people,” Jaesic Park, who also holds the rank of staff colonel in the South Korean navy, told Anadolu Agency.

Park praised Turkey’s support during the Korean War -- which started on June 25, 1950 and ended on July 27, 1953 -- and said it was unforgettable.

The Korean War broke out when North Korea invaded the South in 1950, after a series of clashes along the border. The North was backed by the Soviet Union and China, while South Korea was backed by the UN.

Park added that 40,670 UN soldiers and137,899 South Korean soldiers lost their lives in the war. Some 508,797 North Korean also lost their lives.

The total casualties, including the dead, injured and missing, amounted to 600,000 people in South Korea, he said.

“Casualties were higher for the other side. Around 1.5 million people were killed or injured in North Korea and in the Chinese army,” Park added.

- Turkish troops fourth-largest

Park ranked countries in terms of the number of soldiers sent to the war.

The U.S. topped the list with 1.08 million soldiers, while the U.K. came in second with 56,000 soldiers and Canada followed with 26,791 soldiers.

Park said Turkey joined the war with a total of 21,212 soldiers in four brigades, which puts it at fourth place.

He also highlighted that the reason for some resources saying that Turkey sent 15,000 soldiers to the war, was because the fourth brigade arrived in southeastern Pusan (now Busan) Port just as the cease-fire was signed, while the first three brigades were at the front.

He said these soldiers in the fourth brigade set out while the war was still ongoing and they arrived in the country after an almost 30-day voyage.

Park added that declaration of cease-fire when Turkish soldiers were almost at the port does not mean that they did not participate in the war and they were also veterans.

He also said Turkey was the third country in terms of casualties, after the U.S. and the U.K.

According to the records of South Korea’s ministry of patriots and veterans affairs, Turkey lost over 900 soldiers in the war.

- Turkish soldiers gained victory in Kumyangjang-ni

Park said that Turkey’s military support to the country was very meaningful.

He said Turkish soldiers won against China in Kumyanjang-ni. Owing to them, South Korea regained its capital Seoul.

“Only 12 people were martyred from Turkish brigade, while 1,995 Chinese soldiers were killed,” Park said.

He added that all Turkish war prisoners returned during the prisoner exchange a month prior to the cease-fire.

“Some 244 people were held hostage from Turkish brigade. They all returned, no one perished," he added.

He recalled that 462 Turkish soldiers martyred during the war were buried in the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan.

Turkey and South Korea established historic ties then, and still call each other "blood brothers".

* Sena Guler in Ankara contributed to the report