Gwangju Sister City: Medan, Indonesia
Special thanks to Mr. Djauzi Ilmi from Medan City Government
Horas! That’s “Welcome!” in the Batak language.
Medan is the capital of the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. True to its name, which means “vast field,” it is the largest city in the country outside Java Island. Its close proximity to nearby countries such as Malaysia and Singapore makes it a busy trading and commercial city. It is also the primary gate for all international flights to Sumatra and to nearby Southeast Asian cities.
Known for its friendliness, Medan has been dubbed “The Smiling City of Indonesia.” It is home to around 2.5 million people, a population among the most diverse in the country. Thanks to its strategic geographical location, Medan has had many settlers from other countries come and try to make a living. These days, the majority of its residents are part the North Sumatra race, also known as the Bataks, the Javanese, the Chinese, the Tamil and Malay.
A Dutch colony for 350 years, Indonesia has plenty of historical buildings still intact, and Medan has its share. Some Colonial Era buildings still house government offices! The different kinds of religious architecture reveal a greater diversity, however; Maimun Palace was once the palace of a sultan, built in the 18th century.
A trip outside the city will take travelers to Sumatra’s natural highlight; the largest volcanic lake in Southeast Asia, Lake Toba, is a five-hour-drive down south, while a four-hour-drive north from the city will bring tourists to the lush jungles of Sumatra, home of the Orangutan Conservation Center.
Medan’s sister-city relationship relationship with Gwangju was officially declared in September 24, 1997. Both cities are similar in many ways. Each have reputations for excellent food and gourmet eating. Also, they are similar in total area and their visions to be the center of their respective regions.
To strengthen the bonds of friendship, Medan city delegates were invited to watch the South Korean team play against Spain in the quarterfinal match of the 2002 World Cup, as well as, be the main guests for GIC Day in October 2008. A day later, the delegates were present for the opening of Medan Street. In Medan, Gwangju Street was opened in March 2005. Gwangju Street in Medan is located in a busy shopping district and marked with a stone plaque to commemorate the friendship of both cities.
Annual invitations of the city delegates continue to bolster the relationship between Medan and Gwangju. The teams, consisting of city officials and students, visit local schools, engage in homestay programs, tour each city’s natural and historical attractions and visit local factories. In the most recent visit in January 2014, Gwangju students met with Medan’s mayor and the North Sumatra governor. This year Medan will host Gwangju’s city delegates in September. The warm interaction and educational exchange program bring both cities closer and improve the connections among the youth of each city.
If you happen to be around Gwangju World Cup Stadium, look for a plaque located in front of the three-way junction of Yeomju Gymnasium and Jipbong Tunnel in Pungam-dong. The plaque marks the one-kilometer street alongside the gymnasium and the gymnasium park, a good place for a stroll or jog. The plaque is the testament to both cities’ promises to recognize each other for what they are: sisters in a global family.