The national libraries of Turkey and Korea expanded their cooperation with the opening of a new section of the National Library of Korea, “Window on Turkey.”

Turkish Ambassador to Korea Naci Saribas inaugurated the new section with an opening ceremony at the National Library of Korea on Monday.

The section consists of 1,168 items of books and non-book materials about Turkey.

“Window on Turkey” consists of books in Turkish and English languages, including those of famous Turkish novelists such as Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, history books from early Turkish history to the 20th century, and books on painting, architecture, theater arts, ceramics and poetry.

Some books regarding Turkey in Korean such as Korean translations of “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk” by Andrew Mango and “Sultan and Emperor (Mehmet the Conqueror)” by Kim Hyong-o, former speaker of the National Assembly, will be added in the coming weeks.

“The best way for the people to understand each other is either to travel or to read or both. ‘Window on Turkey’ will contribute to the already existing very special relations as blood brothers of the Turkish and Korean people,” Saribas said.

The new “Window on Turkey” section will contribute to what Saribas described as “the already existing very special relations” of the Turkish and Korean people and he promised that the collection of book and non-book materials will expand in the future.

Along with Saribas, Zekeriya Batmazoglu, acting president of the Turkish National Library, and Shim Jang-sup, chief executive of the National Library of Korea, participated in the opening ceremony.

The National Library of Korea was founded in 1945 as a comprehensive repository of national literature, from domestic publications to digital information. The library has numerous cooperative relationships with foreign governments such as Turkey around the world to expand its resources.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)