Global Korea I
Hansik on Instagram Live
Astana, Kazakhstan
The KCC in Astana has used Instagram to livestream lessons on Hansik (traditional Korean cooking). Weekly online videos were posted from June 10–24. The first lesson was on bulgogi (stir-fried marinated beef), the most popular dish among visitors to the center. To enable viewers to follow in real time, the KCC posted notices of ingredients in advance.
Around 200 viewers watched the lessons and interacted via comments and questions. In addition to the videos, the KCC also provided content to keep Korea fans entertained amid the pandemic including classes on Korean being conducted digitally and instructional content on Korean quarantine guidelines.
Global Korea I
K-pop Dance Challenge
Sao Paulo, Brazil
As part of its ¡°Stay Strong with Hallyu¡± campaign amid the pandemic, the KCC ran the ¡°Stay Strong Newkidd Challenge¡± featuring dance lessons by the K-pop boy band Newkidd. Debuting in 2017, the group visited South America¡¯s largest country to attend Brasil Hallyu Expo 2019.
Newkidd¡¯s dance class is separate from the regular ones taught online by a K-pop dance coach through the KCC. The group¡¯s members taught the choreography they used in the video of their newly released song ¡°Come,¡± as well as in other K-pop songs that can be performed indoors during quarantine. A contest also gave participants the chance to win a Newkidd CD by submitting a video of themselves dancing along to the group¡¯s choreography.
Global Korea II
Collecting Memorabilia of
Turkish Veterans of Korean War
Written & photographed by Korea.net Honorary Reporter• Ece Yildirim from Turkey
When I was 16, the 2002 World Cup soccer final was co-hosted by Korea and Japan. I still vividly remember when players from the national teams of Turkey and Korea hugged each other at the end of their third-place consolation game. I also learned of the historical relationship between the two nations in high school.
At the time, though people had little chance to search the internet, I had more historical and geographic knowledge about Korea than most. Accessing a lot of data wasn¡¯t as easy as it is now, but I read a lot about the Korean War, especially the war¡¯s historical importance and the strong ties between the two countries.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea in launching a war that would last three years. Turkey sent three brigades for the war effort in September 1950, and they arrived in Busan a month later.
The success of the Turkish military in the war is legendary, though it also suffered many losses in raids and attacks.
I visited the U.N. memorial for Turkish soldiers in Busan several times when I was in Korea. I also met lots of Korean War veterans in Turkey, and this was a great honor for me. One veteran stands out, however: Süleyman Dilbirliği, known as the spiritual Turkish father of the Korean orphan girl Ayla.
When I was at my family¡¯s summer homes, Süleyman was our neighbor. I met him and found it amazing to listen to Ayla¡¯s story and memories of the war from him after a few encounters.
While I was living in Korea in 2017, the movie ¡°Ayla¡± about the veteran and the orphan was released in theaters. During the gala, I got to meet the real-life Ayla. Sadly, I learned that shortly after the movie was released, Süleyman died, but I think he left this world peacefully since he found and spent time with her.
Since 2015, I¡¯ve collected materials about Korea and the Korean War. I have many photographs that are valuable to me such as newspapers and magazines from that period.
I¡¯ve learned a lot about the war while amassing this collection. Sadly, many Korean War veterans are passing away. Officially, an estimated 724 Turkish soldiers were killed in action during the war.
I commemorate all Korean War veterans and martyrs with respect and gratitude.
