While forest fires continue in Turkey in the summer months, the first 30 thousand of the 130 thousand seedlings donated by Korean nature lovers came together in the Serik district of Antalya. Won Ik Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Turkey, who attended the seedling planting ceremony of the Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest, said, “Every seedling we plant will deepen the friendship of the Korean and Turkish peoples.”
Korean Women’s National Volleyball Team Captain Kim Yeon-koung said in the message he sent, “I am very happy to be able to contribute to such a meaningful cooperation, even if only a little.” As the symbol of the brotherhood of the two countries, the General Directorate of Forestry will plant 30 thousand seedlings in the Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest.
Seedlings donated by Korean nature lovers within the scope of the “Rooted in Ourselves – The Green Homeland is Ours” campaign launched by ÇEKUD with the aim of greening the areas damaged by the forest fires that occurred in many cities of Turkey in the summer months started to meet the soil. South Korea’s Ambassador to Turkey Won Ik Lee also attended the seedling planting ceremony held on Thursday, November 18, 2021 in Antalya’s Serik district. After the ceremony, 30 thousand of the 130 thousand seedlings donated by Korean nature lovers began to be planted. Turkey-Korea Friendship Forests, the first of which will be created in Serik, will be established in 6 different cities of Turkey. 64 thousand seedlings will be planted in our country’s first Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest. Korean nature lovers donate 30 thousand, 30 thousand are planned by the General Directorate of Forestry, and 4 thousand are donated by a benefactor.

“Stay strong! Korean people are always with you.”

Won Ik Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Turkey, said that he was honored to attend the Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest seedling planting ceremony. Ambassador Lee who conveyed his condolences on behalf of the Republic of Korea to the citizens affected by the forest fires that took place throughout the country, especially in Antalya. He said, “Although it took place in a very large area, the Turkish government and the Turkish people, who quickly brought the forest fires under control and healed the wounds, said, ‘Stay strong! I want to convey the message that the Korean people are always with you. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that they will plant 7 billion trees by 2023 at the November 11 National Afforestation Day event. Hoping that 130,000 seedlings donated by Korean nature lovers will be a part of this goal, we will carefully plant these seedlings one by one together with the Turkish people participating in the event.

“Our friendship will deepen with seedlings””

Noting that the friendship of the Korean and Turkish peoples dates back to ancient times, Ambassador Lee said, “In the past, the sacrifice of Turkish veterans in the Korean War provided a solid basis for the development of bilateral relations. The Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest, which we have created today, will also contribute to the restoration of green areas by bringing a new forest to Antalya. However, every seedling we plant will deepen the friendship of the peoples of Korea and Turkey. I would like to express my gratitude to the General Directorate of Forestry of Turkey, ÇEKUD officials and all nature lovers who brought the seedlings together with the soil, who contributed to this process.”

“I am delighted to have contributed to the consolidation of the friendship between the two countries.”

Kee Houng Park, Undersecretary of Culture of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, called for seedling donation after the Turkey-Korea volleyball match, and shared the message sent by Korea Women’s National Volleyball Team Captain Kim Yeon-koung, who mediated the donation of 130,000 seedlings. Yeon-koung wrote in her statem“nt, “I am very happy to be able to participate in such a meaningful collaboration even a little bit. I hope that the damage caused by the forest fire will be repaired as soon as possible and everyone will return to their daily life in good health. My heartfelt congratulations on the seedling planting ceremony of the Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest in Antalya! Turkey, keep fighting! Environmental Organizations Solidarity Association, keep fighting!” used the phrases.

“Turkey-Korea friendship will take root with seedlings””

Silindi: Stating that they started a “Rooted in Ourselves” campaign with the slogan “The Green Homeland is Ours” to contribute to the re-greening of burned forest areas, ÇEKUD President Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik said, “While our campaign was continuing, we encountered the favor of our Korean friends, with whom we are close by heart, despite the long distance between us. After the Turkey-Korea Volleyball match, tens of thousands of Korean nature lovers donated more than 130,000 seedlings for Turkey via www.dikiliagacimvar.com, upon the call for seedling donation made by the Captain of the Korean Volleyball National Team, Kim Yeon-koung. Upon this appreciation of our Korean friends, we, as ÇEKUD, decided to establish Turkey-Korea Friendship Forests. We are sure that our friendship will take root when the seedlings we plant carefully turn into trees. We would like to thank the Korean nature lovers for their support, and we would like to express our gratitude for choosing ÇEKUD and our dikiliagacimvar.com donation site for seedling donation.”

“Korean nature lovers will have planted trees in Turkey where they can breathe.”

Stating that they are pleased to bring the first seedlings of the Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest to the soil with the presence of Won Ik Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Turkey, ÇEKUD President Debik said: We find it very valuable that it will begin to take root. From now on, Korean nature lovers will have planted trees in Turkey under which they can breathe. A Korean proverb says, “Deep-rooted trees are not affected by drought”” while a Turkish proverb says, “The best of the tree is evident from its essence, and the best of the brave is from its word”” These words show the value that the two countries attach to nature, seedlings, and trees. On behalf of the Turkish people, we thank the Korean Women’s Volleyball National Team Captain Kim Yeon-koung for inviting Korean nature lovers to donate seedlings to Turkey and Ambassador Won Ik Lee for his great interest.”
Antalya Forest Regional Deputy Director Fuat Nur, who spoke at the ceremony, also gave information about Turkey’s afforestation activities and fire fighting methods.
After the ceremony, the seedling planting ceremony of the Turkey-Korea Friendship Forest was started. With hundreds of environmentally friendly volunteers participating in the ceremony, the first seedlings were brought together with the soil. The program ended with the taking of the collective commemorative photograph.