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South Korean group HoonDoo, known for adapting Turkish songs into Korean and drawing widespread attention on social media, is forging a bond of friendship between the two countries.
South Korean music group HoonDoo gave its first concert in Türkiye in Canakkale, where the group traveled as part of the Türkiye Culture Road Festival, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Korean Cultural Center.
HoonDoo members Lee Seung Hoon and Doo Jin Soo toured the city before their concert at the ICDAS Kara Yusuf Congress Center, sampling local delicacies such as sardines, kelle paca (a traditional dish made from sheep's head and trotters) and kokorec (grilled offal).
Lee Seung Hoon said they generally choose Turkish songs based on suggestions from their fans on social media. He added that after releasing the song recordings, the comments that affected them most were ones saying he and his bandmate had "become Turkish."
Asked about similarities between Turkish and Korean music, Lee noted that both countries' music shares similar feelings, such as sorrow and longing, along with similar ways of expressing them.
Lee said performing as Koreans in a historic city like Canakkale was a great source of pride for the group. He added that what stood out to them most was the city's nature along with the happiness and kindness of its people, contrasting it with the busier pace of life in Seoul.
Describing the food they tried during their stay, Lee joked that the risk of gaining weight from local dishes was high, noting that they had already gained two kilograms since arriving.
Lee said that if Koreans were asked which nation they consider their "brother nation," 10 out of 10 would answer "Türkiye."
He added that they hope to keep sharing content to maintain the connection between the two countries' younger generations through music.
The group's other member, Doo Jin Soo, said that while they mostly perform K-pop-oriented songs, they also draw on their opera training when singing pop songs, noting that experience singing in different languages during that training has helped them perform in Turkish.
Doo said they prioritize suggestions from fans when choosing songs, researching each one's background before performing it. "I look at the lyrics, and Lee looks at the melody," he said, adding that his favorite Turkish song is "Sari Gelin."
Doo said the group will also perform with Turkish singer Bayhan during the festival, noting that it was thanks to Bayhan that they began covering Turkish songs, and calling it an honor to share the stage with him.
Touching on the friendly relations between the two countries, Doo said Koreans are widely aware of the Korean War and the help Turks provided during it, which is why Türkiye is seen as a "brother nation."
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