“7th International Korean War History Teachers Conference” Begins at NEVU
The “7th International Korean War History Teachers Conference”, organised at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVU) in cooperation with the Korean War Legacy Foundation and Anadolu University, has begun.
The opening ceremony, held at the NEVU Vali Şinasi Kuş Culture and Congress Centre, was attended by Nevşehir Governor Hüseyin Kök; NEVU Rector Prof. Dr. Semih Aktekin; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cem Gençoğlu, Chair of the Board of Education and Discipline at the Ministry of National Education; Prof. Dr. Erkan Erdemir, Vice-Rector of Anadolu University; Joe Karb, Executive Director of the Korean War Legacy Foundation; Prof. Dr. Jongwoo Han, President of the Korean War Legacy Foundation and Shinhan Distinguished Professor at Yonsei University; as well as academics and teachers from Türkiye, the United States, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Korea, Italy and Norway, protocol members and invited guests.
Rector Aktekin: History Education Should Incorporate Different Perspectives
In his address, NEVU Rector Prof. Dr. Semih Aktekin expressed his pleasure at hosting historians and educators from various countries in Nevşehir. Noting that Cappadocia has served as a meeting point for different civilisations and cultures throughout history, Aktekin stated that this distinctive characteristic makes Nevşehir a particularly meaningful location for an international conference on history and education.
Emphasising that the Korean War was one of the major historical events of the 20th century, Aktekin stated that it should be examined not only from a military perspective but also in terms of its political, social and international consequences. He noted that the educational materials prepared as part of the conference would enable students to evaluate the Korean War through different sources and perspectives, while also highlighting the importance of critical thinking and multiple perspectives in history education.
Aktekin stated that relations between Türkiye and Korea should be further strengthened through cooperation in education, culture, tourism and academia. He added that increasing reciprocal visits, partnerships between schools and universities, and student and academic exchanges between Nevşehir and Korea would help the two societies become better acquainted with one another.
Governor Kök: Our Shared History Should Be Passed on to Future Generations
Nevşehir Governor Hüseyin Kök stated that the Korean War marked an important turning point in the historical foundations of Türkiye–Korea friendship. He noted that the courage, sacrifice and heroism demonstrated by Turkish soldiers during the war forged a strong bond of friendship between the two countries.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gençoğlu: History Education Should Strengthen Multiple Perspectives
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cem Gençoğlu, Chair of the Board of Education and Discipline at the Ministry of National Education, emphasised the need to adopt an approach to history education that is based on reliable sources, examines different perspectives and encourages critical thinking rather than relying on a single narrative. He stated that this approach is also consistent with the Century of Türkiye Education Model.
Prof. Dr. Jongwoo Han: The Legacy of the Korean War Should Be Preserved Through Education
Prof. Dr. Jongwoo Han, President of the Korean War Legacy Foundation and Shinhan Distinguished Professor at Yonsei University, drew attention to the importance of accurately passing the historical legacy of the Korean War on to future generations. Referring to efforts aimed at strengthening the place of the Korean War in history education across different countries, Han stated that making the educational materials prepared in Türkiye available to teachers and students would make a significant contribution to this field.
Prof. Dr. Erkan Erdemir: Educational Materials Will Make a Significant Contribution
Prof. Dr. Erkan Erdemir, Vice-Rector of Anadolu University, highlighted the importance of the printed and digital educational materials developed to improve the teaching of the Korean War in Türkiye. Erdemir stated that the educational content prepared as part of the project draws on historical documents, oral history interviews and various other sources. He added that these materials would help students learn about the Korean War through an inquiry-based approach that encourages them to compare different sources.
History Education and Shared Heritage to Be Discussed at the Conference
The conference will address the transmission of the Korean War’s historical legacy to future generations through education, the preservation of veterans’ oral history testimonies, different countries’ approaches to teaching history and the use of digital educational materials.
The educational materials developed as part of the “Following the North Star: The Korean War and Türkiye” project will also be introduced during the conference. Participants will evaluate initiatives aimed at strengthening multiple perspectives, critical thinking and historical empathy in history education. The conference will continue with sessions and workshops attended by academics and teachers from various countries.
