Stressing that Turkey has stamped out the remnants of the failed coup d’etat, accepted 3 million Syrian refugees and bolstered ties with Korea, the envoy argued his country was “a source of inspiration around the world.”

Mentioning the aborted insurrection, the diplomat lauded his compatriots for defeating the mutineers -- part of the “Fethullah Gulen Terror Organization” as inculpated by the Turkish government -- who destroyed state institutions and killed citizens through violent means.

By taking to the streets “with their bare hands,” the Turkish citizens -- across the political spectrum -- forestalled the armed revolt and proved their democratic credentials, Okcal underscored.

He also thanked the Korean government and people for swiftly condemning the botched coup and expressing solidarity with Turkey’s democracy.

Turkey has borne the negative consequences of the poisonous crises in the Middle East, the ambassador underlined, adding that the wars in neighboring Syria and Iraq have posed “severe” security challenges to his country.

“We are quickly healing our wounds,” he said. “Normalcy has returned to my beautiful country. Turkey is as secure and vibrant as ever.” 

Following the Turkish troops’ participation in the Korean War (1950-53), during which more than 20,000 fought as part of the United Nations Forces and some 1,000 died, the two countries “transformed their friendship into a blood-sealed brotherhood,” the envoy said.

Ankara and Seoul established diplomatic relations in 1957. Strategic Partners since 2012, the two nations have bolstered cooperation through various international bodies, including the United Nations, G-20, Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development and MIKTA, a five-way alliance between Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia.

Turkey is a founding member of the UN, the Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and OECD, as well as a member of G-20 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On the back of the Turkey-Korea free trade agreement on goods that came into force in 2013, trade and human contact are flourishing rapidly, Okcal asserted, citing increasing Korean investment in Turkey and bilateral trade that topped $7.6 billion last year. 

Hyundai Motors raised its production capacity at the Izmit plant in northwestern Turkey last year, and CJ E&M Music and Live has plowed some $800 million into Turkey’s booming media and entertainment industry this year.

SK Engineering & Construction and Turkish partner Yapi Merkezi have jointly built the Eurasia Tunnel, scheduled to be inaugurated at the end of this year to connect Europe and Asia through its two-layered tunnel under the Bosphorus Strait.

Through last year, Korean companies had won more than $4.7 trillion of accumulated orders in construction projects in Turkey, the world’s 17th largest population with 78 million people and Europe’s seventh largest economy with $751 billion in gross domestic product.

Korea’s direct investment has reached nearly $1.5 billion, and some 300 Korean companies are operating in Turkey’s energy, infrastructure, transportation, automobile manufacturing, steel production, information and communication technology, media and entertainment, retail and tourism sectors.

The two countries will mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomacy next year through “Turkey-Korea Year” celebrations. A year of activities encompassing diplomacy, commerce, culture, scholarship and community ties are scheduled.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)