Sister Cities

Gwangju International Exchange Activities

Through a wide range of international exchange programs including those with our sister cities abroad, expanded exchange with other foreign cities, hosting of international conferences, and greater efforts to attract foreign investment capital, the city of Gwangju has been exerting tremendous efforts to solidify its status as a leading global city in the 21st century, the era of globalization.

Status of sister cities overseas

Tainan, Taiwan (concluded sister city relationship on Sept. 17, 1968)

• Location : Tainan Prefecture, Taiwan
• Area : 176㎢ (population: 750,000)
• Features of the region : a regional hub in the southern part of Taiwan in areas of economy, culture, transportation and education
• Major industries : manufacturing sector (machinery, metals, spinning and weaving, plastic)
• Other regional information :
  • - educational institutes : National Cheng Kung University
  • - leisure facilities : Ansungkobo (remains), Ukjaekueumsung (remains), the oldest capital of Taiwan with plentiful cultural artifacts
  • - major facilities : Tainan Airport
• History of exchange : cultural exchanges, youth orchestra visit, and participation in the Gwangju Biennale

* The street extending from Namgwangju Sa(4)geori to Nongseong underground roadway was named 'Daenam-ro' in commemoration of the conclusion of sister city agreement. There is also a street named 'Gwangju-ro' in Tainan.

San Antonio, U.S.A. (concluded sister city relationship on Feb. 4, 1982)

• Location : Texas, U.S.A.
• Area : 950㎢ (population : 1.2 million)
• Features of the region : strategic transportation center in the south-central U.S. including airport and railways ; a military city with five bases nearby
• Major industries: trade, distribution and tourism
• History of exchange: exchanges made on 38 occasions including cultural arts groups and economic delegations
• Other regional information :
  • - Educational Institutes : about 50 Catholic Parish schools, about 100 private middle schools, 14 Universities
  • - Cultural facilities : The Texas Culture Center, Hemisfair Park, Botanic Garden and other culture facilities
  • - Tourism Facilities : The Alamo Fortress
• History of exchange : Visit of overseas market development team, Gwangju Biennale Opening participation, donation of May 18 trees of democracy, exchange of economic delegates, dispatching public servants

In San Antonio, there has been discussion about the symbolic architecture of Gwangju (an Octagon)

Guangzhou, China (concluded sister city relationship on Oct. 25, 1996)

• Location : Guangzhou (160 km by land from Hong Kong)
• Area : 7,434㎢ (population : 850 million)
• Features of the region : economic, cultural and transportation hub in southern China
• Major industries : trade and manufacturing sectors (metal)
• History of exchanges : trade expositions, cultural arts groups, visits to the World Cup and the Biennale.

* To commemorate the Chinese football team's playing a preliminary match in Gwangju during the 2002 World Cup, the road in front of World Cup Stadium in Gwangju has been named "Guangzhou Street" and a monument erected there (June 4th, 2002).

* Symbolic commemorative monument of Gwangju (monument named Guangzhou) in Guangzhou Undae Park (November 3rd, 2003).

Medan, Indonesia (concluded sister city relationship on Sept. 24, 1997)

• Location : Sumatra, Indonesia (in far northwest Indonesia)
• Area : 268㎢ (population: 2.4 million)
• Features of region : The third largest city in Indonesia and the major city in northern Sumatra
• Major industries : agriculture (tobacco, coconut, tea, rubber), commerce (trade center for natural resources)
• Other regional information :
  • - Major resources: oil, rubber, coconut oil, tea, and coffee
  • - Culture Leisure: 19 high class hotels, 114 general hotels (nurturing the tourism-related industry)
  • - Major facilities: Polonia international airport (5 international airlines), neighboring Belawan port, the largest port in Indonesia
• History of exchanges : student home stays, expositions, visits by entrepreneurs, inspection of industrial complexes, visits to Biennale and World Cup matches

Sendai, Japan (concluded sister city relationship on April 20, 2002)

• Location : central city in northeastern part of Japan
• Area : 788㎢ (population: 1.25 million)
• Features of region : Political, economic, educational, cultural and transportation hub for the northeastern part of Japan.
• Major industries : petroleum, manufacture of earthen tubes, thermal power, specialized steel, textiles, etc.
• Other regional information :
  • - Educational facilities : 127 primary schools, 110 middle and high schools, 17 universities
  • - Cultural Leisure : Sendai City Palace, Matsu Shima, Star Festival, Sendai Lights Festival, Zao Spa
  • - Major facility : new Northeast railway, Sendai Airport, Sendai Port, subway
• History of exchanges : exchanges including flower arranging, culture, economics, sports, visits to the Biennale and World Cup matches and Kimchi Festival

* To commemorate the conclusion of the sister city agreement between Gwangju and Sendai, Sendai named a city bus line as the "Lake Gwangju" line (April 20, 2002).

• Division : T/F for Innovation City-Gwangju&Jeonnam of the Planning & Management Office
• Contact : +82-62-613-2783~4