Türkiye's iconic military band performs at Seoul's War Memorial

Türkiye’s Mehter Band performs at Koreas National War Memorial Museum located in central Seoul on Oct 08 AJP Kim Dong-woo — Türkiye’s Mehter Band performs at Korea's National War Memorial located in central Seoul on Oct. 08. AJP Kim Dong-woo

SEOUL, October 08 (AJP) - The Ottoman Mehter Band, the world’s oldest military marching band, performed at Korea’s National War Memorial in central Seoul on Tuesday. Diplomats, military attachés from various embassies, and a large audience attended the event.

Türkiye’s Mehter Band, which dates back to the 13th century, is celebrated as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, reflecting the unity of its people. The band is known for boosting soldiers' morale on the battlefield and instilling fear in enemy soldiers.

The Mehter Band is recognized for its unique features—thundering drums, banners, and special tassels called "Tukh." According to Turkish historians, the Ottoman military band inspired other European and Asian nations, such as Poland, Austria, Russia, and France, to form their own military bands.

Turkish Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Murat Tamer speaks during an opening speech session for the Ottoman Mehter Military Band performance event held at Koreas National War Memorial Museum in central Seoul on Oct 08 AJP Kim Dong-woo — Turkish Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Murat Tamer speaks during an opening speech session for the Ottoman Mehter Military Band performance event held at Korea's National War Memorial in central Seoul on Oct. 08. AJP Kim Dong-woo

During his opening speech, Turkish Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Murat Tamer spoke of the performance’s special meaning: "We have deep-rooted and multi-faceted historical and cultural bonds with the brotherly Korean people," he said, referencing the term "Blood Brothers," which originated during the Korean War (1950~1953) when Türkiye sent about 15,000 troops.

The Turkish Armed Forces were among the first United Nations troops deployed in the Korean War. "During the Korean War, a sacred brotherhood was forged between Turkish and Korean soldiers. Today, we proudly call this special bond 'a blood brotherhood.'"

The Mehter Band also performed popular Korean traditional folk songs, including "Arirang" and "Han Obaeknyeon," as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. Korean audiences responded with cheers and applause as the Turkish military band skillfully played and sang the familiar tunes.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com