Turkey

  •  Korean War and Turkey's Membership to NATO

    The Korean War began with the North Korean attack on South Korea. Especially after the Second World War, while North Korea was under the influence of the Soviet Union, South Korea was under the influence of the United States. Over time, these two states became rivals to each other. This rivalry between the two states, which adopted different political styles, intensified. Later, it caused the war to begin.

    Many different states have become parties to the war between North Korea and South Korea.

    Turkey sided with South Korea as the minimum support by the United Nations in this war. Turkey participated in the Korean War as a member of the United Nations in order to become a member of NATO.

    At the end of the war, neither side could achieve a decisive victory, and approximately three million people lost their lives. The number of missing, veterans and children victims of war reaches hundreds of thousands. At that time, the Turkish Government, which was considering joining the Western system, sent a brigade to the UN Force on 25 September under the command of General Tahsin Yazıcı, which would later be named Şimal Yıldızı ( Polar Star).

    Thus, the Turkish soldier, who has not entered the battlefield since the National Struggle, actually participated in the battle in Korea. In this war, Turkish soldiers exhibited many examples of heroism.

    A Turkish veteran from Korean War

    The Korean War is one of the most important wars in world history. Although the Korean War, in which many states participated, was fought between North Korea and South Korea, it had significant consequences for the world in terms of its results. After the Korean War, the concept of police began to emerge in all countries, and Turkey became a NATO member in 1952 after the war.

    (Deniz E, Esmanur K, Azra, Eylül, Sıla, Kanuni Gebze Tr )

    Why did Turkey join the Korean War?

    After the Second World War, Turkey was pursuing a foreign policy close to the United States. He wanted to join NATO for his security. However, some states in NATO were against Turkey's accession. The main reason for Turkey's participation in the Korean War was to remove the barriers to joining NATO.

    (Beyza, Yakup, Kanuni Gebze Tr )

    The unknown story of little Korean girl Ayla and Turkish soldier Süleyman

    "I called her daddy, she called me my beautiful moon-faced girl"

    This is the story of a 5-year-old Korean girl who lost her parents during the Korean War, and the Turkish soldier Süleyman, who took care of her and named her Ayla.

    It's the 1950s... South Korea was in a war at that time and the Turkish soldier was there too. We give more than 700 martyrs, Turkish soldiers protected the South Koreans at the cost of their lives.

    When you ask the South Koreans today; they usually say that they like Turks very much. Here is the reason. The Turkish soldier's claim to them.

    This is such a way of adopting orphans as if they were their own children. The story between Uncle Süleyman, 86, who is a Korean veteran today, and Ayla, the Korean girl he takes care of, is proof of this.

    Süleyman is a Turkish soldier who goes to fight in Korea. There he meets a girl whose mother and father were killed during the war. This innocent pup is only 5 years old.

    Süleyman takes care of her and names this girl, whose name he does not know, Ayla. Ayla; It is the name given to the ring that sometimes appears around the moon and the sun.

    This little girl also accepts Süleyman and sees him as her father. Many children who were in her situation at that time were under the protection of Turkish soldiers. They learned the anthem of Ankara from them, even if they did not know its meaning.

    In the future, a dormitory, even a park, were built for these children, called Ankara. These children live and cling to life in this place called Ankara.

    Ayla will be one of them, but until then, she stays with Süleyman and his comrades, whom she considers her father, to learn Turkish and even to the point where she can translate.

    And it's time to say goodbye... Süleyman wants to take Ayla with him, but this is not possible, because Ayla has to be returned to the dormitory as required by law.

    These 2 special people, who had to leave and call each other father and daughter, came together exactly 60 years later through the authorities.

    The story of this father and daughter who searched for each other for years but could not find each other is still one of the most memorable stories in South Korea. Ayla, who married in 60 years and has 1 son and 2 grandchildren, takes a new name for herself. She searches for Süleyman, whose name she only knew, for years but could not find.

    Her father also calls his daughter and contacts the authorities for this. Finally, this special meeting takes place, this special moment is brought to the screens through Korean television.

    This sad story, which was made into a Turkish-Korean co-production and a documentary shot in Korea, has a happy ending. Reuniting with her father Süleyman, Ayla buys a suit for him and also wins a mother. Uncle Süleyman and his wife, 3 grandchildren…

    What remains is this beautiful and special story.

     

    (Betül B, Deniz T, Nida, Bihter, Berrak, Kanuni Gebze Tr )

    Turkish Scientists

    Aziz Sancar

    Aziz Sancar (8th September 1946) is a Turkish physician, academic, biochemist, molecular biologist and scientist. Aziz Sancar searched how to fix damaged cells and how to protect their genetic information. Sancar was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, together with American Paul Modrich and Swedish Tomas Lindahl, for his work on DNA repair.

    (Kerem, Betül P, Kanuni )

    Gazi Yaşargil

    Gazi Yaşargil (6th July 1925) is a Turkish scientist and medical doctor. He is a neurosurgeon specialist. He is known for his contributions to the practice and dissemination of the use of microscopes (microsurgery) in neurosurgery practice. Thanks to his contributions, he has the title of "Neurosurgeon of the Century".

    (Hamza, Samet, Kanuni Gebze Tr)

    Oktay Sinanoğlu

    Oktay Sinanoğlu (25 February 1935, Bari - 19 April 2015, Miami) is a Turkish chemical engineer and academic. He has taught courses in chemistry, molecular biophysics, biochemistry and mathematics. In 1975, Oktay Sinanoğlu was given the title of the first and only Professor of the Republic of Turkey by special law. He is known for his political views on Turkish as well as his academic studies in Turkey.On July 1, 1963, he received the title of full professor in the field of chemistry, and it was announced that he was the youngest faculty member to win the title of "full professor" at Yale University in the 20th century.

    (Esmanur B, Elif, Kanuni Gebze Tr )

    Popular Travel Destinations Of Turkey After 1950s

    Pamukkale Calcium Pools

    Pamukkale started to gain it’s popularity after 90s. It's still not only beautiful but also a natural wonder. Calcium solidified water tumbling down the sides annual and it makes it one of Turkey's top visited attractions. Every month thousands of people visit Pamukkale since and there are some hot air balloon trips to see the landscape from a different angle so due to it you have chance to see every side of it.

    (Özlem, Ezel, Kanuni Gebze Tr)

    Cappadocia in the Anatolian Region

    Cappadocia was first discovered in 2000s. It is more than a place people take a few days to visit maybe just half of it. What makes it unique is wind erosion which caused that natural wonder. The tufa rock making up strange, natural sculptures formed by mother nature also had another use throughout history. By the way the best time to see the landscape is an early sunrise hot air balloon trip. Also visit Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World heritage.

    (Damla, Çağla, Kanuni Gebze Tr)

    Sea Tourism

    Sea tourism in Turkey has always been popular throughout history. After the 1980s, with the development of technology, it gained more importance. The tourism potential of the Southern coasts of our country has been increasing day by day since then and maintains its popularity. The photo is from the ancient city of Knidos on the Datça peninsula in the south-west of the country.

    (Metin, Tuana, Kanuni Gebze Tr)

    Turkey’s First Domestic Car ‘Anadol’

    Turkey's first domestic car, Anadol, was produced in 1966 with the contributions of businessman Vehbi Koç. As a result of the survey advertisement given to the newspaper to search for a name for the vehicle, 150 thousand letters from four corners of Turkey and more than 2,000 name suggestions were received. Among these names, the most admired ones were Anadol, Anadolu and Koç. At the end of 4 separate meetings, "Anadol", which comes from the word Anatolia, was chosen as the name to crown the vehicle. On the other hand, the emblem of Anadol, which symbolizes one of the deer statues of the Hittites, is based on these lands, just like its name. In short, Anadol was a true folk boy.

    (Enes, Meryem, Şevval, Kanuni Gebze, Tr)

    Turkish Cinema

    1931-1960

    During this period, Istanbul Sokaklarında, the first sound and Turkish-Egyptian-Greek co-production of Turkish Cinema, was shot. In addition, the first short films and period films were shot in this period. The most important development between the years 1931-1950 was the competition organized by the Turkish Cinema Society. In the competition, Şakir Sırmalı's film Unutulan Sır was chosen as the "best film". Scream, which was shot in 1949, was the first Turkish horror movie, and the 1953 movie Halıcı Kız was the first color Turkish movie to be shot.

    (Rana, Melek, Kanuni Gebze, Tr)

    1961-1970

    The second competition in the history of cinema was held under the name of Istanbul Native Film Competition in this period. In addition, the idea of realizing indoor cinemas gained weight in these years, and one of the biggest stages in the history of Turkish cinema was recorded by speeding up the color film application. In the light of all these developments in these years, when the number of films produced reached 789, 1963's Susuz Yaz became the first Turkish film to receive an award at international cinema festivals.

    (Elanaz, Berat, Kanuni Gebze, Tr)

    1971-1980

    Looking at the numerical data in this period, black and white films lagged behind color films. In addition, in these years, studies on cartoons were carried out and competitions were organized, successes in foreign film festivals and international awards were obtained.

    Special award received at the Prades Film Festival.

    Special Jury Award at the Nantes Film Festival.

    Award received at The Hague Film Festival.

    The grand prize awarded to Yusuf and Kenan by Ömer Kavur at the International Milan Film Fair.

    (Talha, Kanuni Gebze Tr)

    Nergiz Çalışkan

  • GIFs created by partner students based on a story of Turkey

    Maria M.- PT
    Júlia - PT
    Gif Klaudia M 1c