Thanking Various Domestic Organizations with a Translator
"They Did Not Leave Us Alone and Saved Many Lives"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] A 9-year-old boy from T?rkiye, who suffered great damage from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that occurred on the 6th (local time), has sent thank-you messages to several domestic organizations including the UN Memorial Cemetery, drawing attention.
According to a report by Yonhap News on the 19th, the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea recently received a letter from Hussein (9), who lives in T?rkiye, via Instagram direct message (DM). Hussein used an online translator to translate Turkish into English and Korean to send the message. Although some sentences were slightly awkward, the content was touching.
A thank you message sent by Husein living in Turkey to the UN Memorial Cemetery. [Photo by Yonhap News]
He introduced himself as a 9-year-old living in Denizli, T?rkiye. He then expressed his gratitude, saying, "Like many other countries, after the T?rkiye earthquake, you did not leave us alone," and "You saved many lives and helped us. I don't know how to say thank you." He also made a mature statement beyond his age, saying, "I don't know how to repay you, but I promise I will grow up to be a good person and visit Korea."
Along with the letter, Hussein sent several drawings and photos. The photos showed Korea’s emergency relief team conducting rescue operations in T?rkiye, and there was also a drawing by comic illustrator Myung Min-ho, which recently received worldwide acclaim through social media (SNS). The drawing depicted a Turkish soldier caring for war orphans during the Korean War and the activities of the Korean emergency rescue team helping children affected by the earthquake in T?rkiye. Many Turkish people who saw this were moved and expressed their gratitude.
In an interview with Yonhap News, Hussein said, "I like Korea and, with the help of my father who studies Hangul, I am communicating by sending thank-you messages to people from Korea and other countries who helped us."
He added, "Just as T?rkiye helped Korea 73 years ago, I am truly grateful that Korea’s special rescue team helped T?rkiye this time. After the earthquake, search and rescue teams were dispatched from 76 countries, and many people donated. I will continue to express my gratitude to Korea and other countries, and I have learned that kindness spreads worldwide."
The UN Memorial Cemetery, which received Hussein’s message, also sent a reply to encourage him. The UN Memorial Cemetery said, "T?rkiye was one of the 22 countries that helped the Republic of Korea, which was threatened with peace and freedom, and since then, the two countries have maintained a long-standing friendship (brotherhood). That fact will not change." They also expressed hope, saying, "We believe Hussein will grow up to be a healthy person with a kind and gentle heart. We hope to meet and greet him someday when he visits the UN Memorial Cemetery."
The UN Memorial Cemetery, located in Nam-gu, Busan, is the world’s only UN military cemetery and houses the remains of 462 Turkish veterans. T?rkiye dispatched 21,212 troops during the Korean War, of whom 1,005 died in action.
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