Sister city wants to strengthen ties

After 15 years, two sisters want a closer relationship.

Delegates from sister cities Columbia and Suncheon, Korea, met last week to discuss how to strengthen relations. No, they haven’t been stealing each other’s makeup. They just want get to know each other a little better. The City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding that is aimed to help the sisters share art, culture, sports and education information. There is also talk of an exchange program, but the details have not been worked out, Mayor Darwin Hindman said.

In the spirit of sharing, here is some juicy gossip on all of Columbia’s sister cities.

Suncheon, Republic of Korea

• Under the Samhan Dynasty the city was known as the Territory of Mahan until 1995 when it became Suncheon.
• Population: 268,204
• Land Size: 907.21 square kilometers
• Mayor: Cho Choong Hoon

Kutaisi, Republic of Georgia

• Kutaisi is the second largest city in Georgia and where Jason stole the Golden Fleece from the precinct of Ares, the god of war.
• Population: 250,000
• Land Size: 65 square kilometers
• Interim Mayor: George Giorgadze

Hakusan, Japan

• The city is near Mount Hakusan, one of the three sacred mountains in Japan. The oldest shrine from Mt. Hakusan is from the Heian period, 794-1191 A.D.
• Population: 13,291
• Land Size: 111.86 square kilometers
• Mayor: Mitsuo Kado

Sibiu, Romania

• Built in the 14th century, the Citadel of Sibiu was one of the largest and best fortified strongholds in Europe. The Citadel is still standing and is referred to as Old Town.
• Population: 169,460
• Land Size: 121 square kilometers