The seismic performance of reinforced-concrete (RC) minarets is strongly influenced by geometric and material discontinuities, particularly within their stairwell and core systems. This study investigates the dynamic and seismic behavior of a reinforced-concrete minaret constructed in 2008 in Zonguldak, T & uuml;rkiye-a seismically active region located near the western branches of the North Anatolian Fault-where the stair-core system was intentionally built with pronounced material discontinuities. Comprehensive field investigations were first conducted to document the existing structural condition, identify internal discontinuities, and assess material integrity through on-site inspections and Schmidt hammer tests. These investigations revealed that the lower one-third of the minaret consists of a reinforced-concrete stairwell and core, the middle one-third transitions to a steel stair-core system, and the upper one-third reverts to reinforced concrete up to the balcony level. Such abrupt stiffness and material contrasts were observed to significantly modify the vibration characteristics and introduce potential zones of stress concentration. To quantify these effects, ambient vibration tests (AVT) were performed using triaxial accelerometers installed at the base, mid-height, and balcony levels to identify the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios of the structure. A detailed three-dimensional finite-element (FE) model was subsequently developed in SAP2000 based on the original construction drawings and calibrated using in-situ material properties obtained from field tests. The validated numerical model reproduced the experimentally identified modal frequencies with deviations of less than 1%, confirming its reliability for advanced seismic analyses. Three structural configurations were then investigated: (i) the as-built discontinuous RC-steel stair-core system, (ii) a fully continuous reinforced-concrete stair-core configuration, and (iii) a fully steel stair-core system. Each configuration was subjected to nonlinear time-history analyses using ten recorded earthquake ground motions representative of the 2023 Kahramanmaras & cedil;-Gaziantep earthquake sequence. The results indicate that the hybrid discontinuous configuration exhibits the largest lateral displacements, principal stresses, and strain concentrations, corresponding to the highest vulnerability to seismic damage. In contrast, the fully continuous RC configuration demonstrates the most uniform stiffness distribution and the lowest deformation demand, while the fully steel system exhibits intermediate response levels with more ductile behavior. Overall, the findings clearly demonstrate that stair-core discontinuities significantly amplify seismic demands by inducing stiffness incompatibility and localized failure mechanisms. Based on these results, it is strongly recommended that the stairwell and core components of RC minarets be constructed as continuous reinforced-concrete systems or, where hybrid solutions are unavoidable, be connected through properly designed and mechanically anchored joints to ensure stiffness continuity, global stability, and enhanced seismic resilience.