'Heroes Home' completion ceremony held in Hatay Province, Turkey

Two homes repaired, three newly built for veterans and bereaved families

Program to extend housing support for overseas veterans through 2029

Hyundai Rotem holds a completion ceremony for its "Heroes Home" housing improvement project for Korean War veterans in Hatay Province, Turkey, on Thursday (local time). [Hyundai Rotem]
Hyundai Rotem holds a completion ceremony for its "Heroes Home" housing improvement project for Korean War veterans in Hatay Province, Turkey, on Thursday (local time). [Hyundai Rotem]

Hyundai Rotem has moved to improve the living conditions of Turkish veterans and their bereaved families who fought for South Korea's freedom and peace during the Korean War, repairing earthquake-damaged homes and building new ones for a total of five households.

The company announced Monday that it held a completion ceremony for "Heroes Home" — a housing improvement project for Korean War veterans and their families — on Thursday (local time) in Hatay Province, Turkey.

Heroes Home is a program Hyundai Rotem runs in partnership with social welfare organization Ttatteuthan Donghaeng and the Community Chest of Korea. The initiative aims to renovate or rebuild aging homes for veterans from allied nations who fought in the Korean War.

Turkey is the program's first beneficiary country. During the Korean War, Turkey deployed the fourth-largest contingent of troops after the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, and the two countries have long referred to each other as "brother nations."

This round of the project supported five households — veterans and bereaved families whose living conditions had deteriorated due to earthquake damage and other factors. Two households received repairs to their existing homes, while three were provided with newly built houses.

Among the most notable beneficiaries is Korean War veteran Mehmet Şeker, who volunteered to serve after hearing news of the war's outbreak in 1950 and fought as an army artilleryman in Turkey's first deployment to Korea.

He was evacuated after sustaining a gunshot wound to the shoulder during combat, but returned to the front lines to complete his mission after recovering.

Taking into account earthquake damage to the foundation of Şeker's home, Hyundai Rotem carried out concrete reinforcement work and renovated both the interior and exterior of the house, replacing worn floor tiles and repairing the outer walls.

Attending the ceremony, Şeker said, "I have cherished my connection with South Korea for many long years, and I am overjoyed and deeply grateful to receive such warm attention and care." He added, "I sincerely thank Hyundai Rotem for remembering our dedication and offering this meaningful support."

The home of another veteran, Selim Aslanyürek, also underwent foundation reinforcement and interior and exterior renovation work.

The families of veterans Davut Avci, Halil Demirtaş and Samih Çekiç — all of whom have since passed away — received newly built homes so that their relatives, who had been living in temporary shelters after the earthquake, could settle into more stable conditions.

Along with the construction work, Hyundai Rotem also provided kitchen furniture, refrigerators and other household appliances and furnishings needed for daily life.

The ceremony was attended by Lee Sim-pyo, defense attaché at the South Korean Embassy in Turkey; Kim Mun-jeong, chair of the Korean Association in Turkey; Lee Tae-yeong, chair of the Veterans Commemorative Association; veteran Mehmet Şeker; Beyazit Yumuk, chair of the Turkish Veterans Association; and Hyundai Rotem officials.

Hyundai Rotem plans to carry out the Heroes Home project over four years through 2029, starting with Turkey. The company intends to expand its veterans-focused social contribution activities — previously directed at domestic recipients — to overseas veterans.

Hyundai Rotem has been engaged in veterans-related social contribution activities since 2017, including providing mobility aids to people of national merit. The company has also participated in memorial visits and cleanup volunteer work at Seoul National Cemetery, and has donated officer housing and provided other support for military personnel and veterans' families.

A Hyundai Rotem official said the company was "pleased to be able to remember and express gratitude for the sacrifice and contribution of Turkish veterans who devoted themselves to the freedom and peace of South Korea," adding that it would "continue to fulfill its social responsibilities as a defense company and carry out a range of social contribution activities that connect the nation and local communities."


kwater@heraldcorp.com