While playing football he also began singing. In 1956 during his compulsory military service he was sent to
Korea to serve in the Turkish brigade in Korea which was active during the
Korean War. In Korea, he was both a translator and an entertainer. He used to sing in military mess. Some American soldiers which listened to him, likened Metin Ersoy to
Harry Belafonte, the renowned singer of
calypso music. After returning home, Metin Ersoy decided to sing calypso in the orchestra of
İlham Gencer who called him the "Turkish King of calypso". ==Private life==