Sister-City Relationships: Radiant Connections for Sister-City Youths – Gwangju and Medan Exchange Visits

By Park Yeonju ||

There is this city, the third largest in Indonesia and the capital of North Sumatra. What is its connection to Gwangju? Since establishing a sister-city relationship in 1997, Gwangju and Medan have maintained a vibrant partnership. They have built a deep and lasting bond through continuous exchanges, where youths visit each other’s cities to experience their respective history and culture.

These sister cities have been long-term partners. Every year, the Gwangju International Center (GIC) selects local youths for the Gwangju Youth International Exchange Camp. The program typically runs for a week in October as Gwangju hosts visiting students from Medan. The following February, a delegation of Gwangju youths travels to Medan for a reciprocal visit.

Gwangju Youth Exchange Camp

Let’s begin our trip by looking back at the visit of the Medan youth delegation to Gwangju last October 23–28. This “camp” went beyond simple cultural exchange by integrating the values of public diplomacy into more in-depth programming. Most notably, the Medan youths themselves took the lead in designing these public diplomacy activities.

The entire program was crafted and facilitated by the Medan students as a tailored curriculum for their counterparts in Gwangju. Over two days, they hosted two two-hour Indonesian cultural exchange sessions at Unnam Middle School and Yeongcheon Middle School.

The Medan delegation calmed their nerves and stepped onto the stage. For their first public diplomacy activity, they wore traditional Indonesian batik attire to perform a dance that they had choreographed themselves. This activity was special because the Medan group met more than just the Gwangju exchange participants. They also interacted with middle school students in the city. Some of the Gwangju students were meeting international individuals for the first time while all learned about Gwangju’s sister city Medan. The response was quite enthusiastic and soon they were communicating in their own unique ways.

The Medan delegation used their own presentation slides to explain their city. The youths from both cities then mixed into teams to play various games. They enjoyed diverse activities like the kelereng marble relay and the sarung relay, where they raced while wearing traditional Indonesian outfits. The Gwangju students felt shy at first but soon participated with great passion. Laughter filled the room as they broke through the language barrier. Watching them hold hands and work together was a truly radiant moment for the youths from the sister cities.

Everyone felt sad when it was time to say goodbye. They hugged each other and took photos to remember the moment. The Medan group members had been excited to explore the unique landscape of the Korean middle school. This special program brought Indonesia into the classroom. It gave the Medan youths a chance to experience a real Korean school. It was also a meaningful time for the Gwangju participants to learn about their sister city. The diverse activities of this experience helped them grow as global citizens.

The Medan delegates fell in love with Gwangju through various cultural experiences beyond public diplomacy. They strolled through the alleys of Yangnim-dong to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and wore traditional Korean hanbok attire at the Gwangju hyanggyo (Confucian school). During the weekend, they visited Yeosu with the Gwangju participants to enjoy a night cruise and shared stories like close friends. Since K-pop is globally popular, they walked along the K-pop street in downtown Gwangju and even took a K-pop dance lesson at a local academy.

Most of all their friendship truly shined. The Gwangju and Medan exchange members felt a bit shy at their first meal together but soon became inseparable and played just like any other group of friends. A week passed by in the blink of an eye. Although they knew they would meet again in Medan, they could not stop their tears. On the last day, filled with both laughter and tears, they shared warm hugs and promised to meet again in Medan. About four months remained until the trip to Medan, and all involved waited with excitement for the next chapter of their story.

Gwangju Youths Experience Medan

From February 1 to 9 this year, the story of youths from the two cities unfolded once again, this time in Medan, Indonesia. During their visit, the youth delegation from Gwangju engaged in a variety of meaningful activities. They showcased the charm of Korea and Gwangju through diverse initiatives, including operating a Korean stamp-making booth, delivering presentations about Gwangju, and preparing K-pop dance performances.

The Gwangju delegation gained firsthand insight into the administrative operations of their sister city by visiting Medan City Hall. They also explored historical sites, including a local mosque. By touring the mosque, they were able to deepen their understanding of Islamic culture and religion. The highlight of the exchange program was undoubtedly the homestay experience. Students visited the homes of their assigned partners to share meals and spend their evenings together. While it is often difficult for ordinary travelers to experience the authentic daily life of a local household in another country, the Gwangju youths had the rare opportunity to meet their sister-city friends’ families, sample traditional dishes, and talk into the night, creating unforgettable memories.

This camp was a truly special and shining moment for everyone. Even though the students ranged from middle school to high school, they built deep friendships and became true friends despite age differences. I still remember one Gwangju student happily saying, “We really clicked with each other!” Before the program started, these youths might not have known that simply talking and spending time with youths from a sister city could create such a strong bond. Through this experience, the Gwangju group promoted their city and Korea, while also discovering meaningful friendships that stretch beyond borders. The shining stories of these 12 Gwangju participants from the Gwangju–Medan Youth Exchange Camp will live on in their hearts forever. This autumn as well, the Medan–Gwangju Youth Camps will continue.

Photograph courtesy of the Gwangju International Center.

Cover Photo: Group photo in traditional Indonesian batik.