Korean Ayla pays sentimental visit to Turkish godfather

ISTANBUL

A Korean woman whose story became the subject of a movie has paid a sentimental visit to her godfather in Istanbul.

Ayla, whose former name was Eunja Kim, visited Süleyman Dilbirliği, who adopted her during the Korean War when she was little.

The story of Ayla and Dilbirliği came to prominence recently after director Can Ulkay told their story in the movie titled “Ayla.”

“Ayla,” which features the story of Sergeant Süleyman, who finds a five-year-old girl in 1950 during the Korean War, was selected Turkey’s Oscar entry for next year’s Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

The girl has no parents and Süleyman names her Ayla. Within a short time, Süleyman and Ayla become like father and daughter. But at the end of the 15-month process, the team is to return to Turkey. Süleyman cannot bear to abandon Ayla, and does everything within his power to take her with him. After repeated failure, he is forced to give Ayla to an orphanage, but does not give up on the hope of one day reuniting with her.

After the gala of the movie in Istanbul, Ayla went to the Haydarpaşa Numune Research and Training Hospital to visit Korean War veteran Dilbirliği.

Tear-jerking moments took place during the visit, in which Ayla was accompanied by Istanbul Directorate of Culture and Tourism head Coşkun Yılmaz, Üsküdar district governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek and the hospital’s head doctor Assoc. Prof. Hasan Kayabaşı.

Speaking about the visit, Yılmaz said that Ayla held her godfather’s hands for a long time.

“Kim took her father’s hands and sobbed as soon as she entered the hospital room. When Kim was holding his hands, her godfather reacted. In fact, an official there said, ‘He had not reacted until this moment. He could feel his daughter had arrived.’ Kim was very innocent and did not let go of her godfather’s hands for a long time,” Yılmaz told state-run Anadolu Agency.

Ayla had previously said she had spent life missing her godfather and was willing to visit him to end her longing.