Man saved by Turkish soldiers during Korean War donates 10M won to earthquake relief

Posted on : 2023-02-10 16:40 KST Modified on : 2023-02-10 16:40 KST
Now 78 years old, Oh Su-eop says he wants to pay back Türkiye for raising him after he was orphaned by the war at age 6
Archival photos of the Ankara School established by Turkish soldiers during the Korean War in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
Archival photos of the Ankara School established by Turkish soldiers during the Korean War in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)

“I only hope that I can give back at least a little of what I received from the Turkish soldiers.”

On Thursday afternoon, Oh Su-eop, the chairperson of the Ankara Brothers Association, spoke frankly to the Hankyoreh about why he decided to donate 10 million won (US$7,900) to earthquake relief in Türkiye. Oh, who was orphaned by the Korean War, was given a new home at the Ankara School thanks to Turkish soldiers.

“Even though several decades have passed, I can still remember seeing the soldiers coming to give us food supplies every weekend as if it were yesterday,” shared Oh, now 78 years old.

A catastrophic earthquake that hit the southern region of Türkiye and the northern border of Syria has resulted in over 20,000 dead. South Korea is continuing to offer helping hands to those in need. Among those lending a helping hand are aging Koreans who, like Oh, received help from Turkish soldiers during the Korean War. Though they say that no dollar amount could be put on the life Türkiye gave them, they want to repay the country all the same.

Oh, whose hometown is in what is now North Korea, formed a relationship with Türkiye in 1951, when he was 6 years old. After having become separated from his family as it evacuated due to bombing, the young Oh was discovered by Turkish soldiers, who then brought him to the Ankara School.

Kim-Gu Yong-guk (left) records testimony from Oh Su-eop, who was taken in by Turkish soldiers after being orphaned by the Korean War, at Oh’s office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province in 2021. (courtesy of the Asian Cultural Center)
Kim-Gu Yong-guk (left) records testimony from Oh Su-eop, who was taken in by Turkish soldiers after being orphaned by the Korean War, at Oh’s office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province in 2021. (courtesy of the Asian Cultural Center)

Established in June 1951 in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, by Turkish soldiers who had been dispatched to Korea, the Ankara School operated as an orphanage and school. It started off as a place in the barracks, where soldiers brought orphans who had been stranded on the front lines, but as more and more children came, a school was established to accommodate the needs of the growing number of children.

Even after the war, Türkiye helped protect the children by providing a large-scale facility and sites for the Ankara School.

“I was left alone in Suwon when my family and I were going to Pyeongtaek and Osan during the ‘Jan. 4 retreat,’ because our train was bombed,” recalled Oh. “I was taken to a Turkish military unit that was stationed in Suwon, and then received all my middle and high school education at the Ankara School. I even got a job at 18, which got me all set to go out into the world.”

Kim-Gu Yong-guk, director of the Asian Cultural Center, has been recording the history of the Ankara School in Korea.

“At the time, Turkish soldiers not only supported war orphans, but also helped many of the poor and injured in Suwon and other nearby areas,” he stated in a phone call with the Hankyoreh. “If you look at various records, it is believed that the Ankara School helped raise around 400 to 700 children until it closed in 1979.”

Even after donating a large amount of money, 10 million won, Oh says that this is nothing compared to the help he received from Türkiye.

“When I heard about the earthquake, I realized it was time for us to help Türkiye. It is thanks to the Turkish soldiers that I could make a living, so I wanted to help with all my heart. I am sure that all the members of the Ankara Brothers Association, who are all children of the Ankara School, feel the same way.”

By Ko Byung-chan, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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