Gresham

Status of sister city

• Location: Oregon, USA (northwestern region)
• City Hall: 490 public employees in 8 departments
• Educational institutes: elementary schools (10), middle schools (6), high schools (2)
• Climate: Temperate
• Features: Satellite city of Portland, Oregon, with highly developed tourism industry and electronic industry
• Internet address: http://greshamoregon.gov/
• Gresham city council: http://greshamsistercity.org
• Mayor: Shane T. Bemis
• Address: 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway Greshame, OR 97030-3813, U.S.A

Process of entering sister city relations

• Dec 4, '84: Approved sisterhood relations by Gresham City Council
• Apr 30, '85: Applied for sisterhood relations between international cities (Sokcho)
• Jun 20, '85: Approved sisterhood relations (Ministry of Home Affairs)
• Jun 23, '85: Entered sisterhood relations (Sokcho: Yang Jong-seok. Gresham: Margaret Wale)

Background for entering sisterhood relations

• 1984: Discussed sisterhood relations from the private sectors due to the friendship of Dong-U College Chairman Jeon Jae-wook and Dr. Heo Man-gyeong, dean of the Department of Political Science at Clark University in Gresham
• Dec 1984: Gresham City Council approved sisterhood relations with Sokcho and sent mail on desire to enter sisterhood relations with Sokcho
• Dec 1984: Advice from Sokcho city administration committee and collected data on basic statistics of Gresham
• Dec 1984: Mayor Yang Jong-seok gave gift of dishes to Mayor Margaret Wale via Dr. Heo Man-gyeong who visited Sokcho
• Mar 1985: Received mail regarding appreciation for gift from Mayor Margaret Wale and that Gresham wished to interact with Sokcho
• Jun 1985: Entered sisterhood relations after six months of mutual efforts and finalized with the visit from Mayor Margaret Wale to Sokcho

Taitung

Status of sister city

• Sisterhood relations of two cities: Apr 16, ’92 (Sokcho)
• Location: Pacific coast in southeastern Taiwan (Administrative zones: 1 city, 2 counties, 13 townships)
• Climate: Tropical (precipitation 1,856㎜, average temperature 24.3℃)
• Features: Most of the prefecture comprised of lakes and hot springs and designated as special tourism district
• Internet address: http://www.taitung.gov.tw
• Mayor: Kuang Li-chen
• Address: #276, Chung-Sun Rd. Taitung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Process of entering sister city relations

• Sisterhood relations of two cities: Apr 16, ’92 (Sokcho)
• Background for entering sisterhood relations
• Feb '91: During visit of the late National Assemblyman Choi Jung-shik of Sokcho to Taitung Prefecture in Taiwan, the head of Taitung proposed making sisterhood relations with Sokcho
• Mar 10, '91: Sent first letter on intent for exchange (head of Sokcho⇒head of Taitung)
• Apr 3, '91: Received first letter on intent for exchange (head of Taitung⇒head of Sokcho)
• Apr 20, '91: Sent introductory materials of Sokcho and sent second letter
• May 10, '91: Received second letter on intent for exchange
• Jul 11, '91: Requested approval for entering sisterhood relations (Sokcho⇒Ministry of Home Affairs)
• Oct 15, '91: Approved sisterhood relations (Ministry of Home Affairs ⇒Sokcho)
• Apr 16, '92: Signed sisterhood relationship agreement

Status of sister city

• Location: Southwestern coast in central Japan
• Climate: Annual average 14.4℃, precipitation 2,018㎜
• Main industries: tourism, commercial industry
• Educational institutes: elementary schools (23), middle schools (11), high schools (8), junior college (1), university (1)
• Culture and leisure: Gaina Festival
• Major facilities: Convention center, Water bird park
• Features: Designated as city for pursuing pleasant environment, realized health and welfare city
• Internet address: http://www.yonago-city.jp/
• Mayor: Nojaka Yasuo
• Address: 1-1 Kamo-cho, Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan

Process of entering sister city relations

• Oct 26, 1994: Signed basic MOU for friendly exchange (Yonago)
• Oct 18, 1995: Entered sisterhood relations (Yonago)
• Oct 17, 1996: Signed agreement for mutual dispatch of public employees (Sokcho)

Sakaiminato

Status of sister city

• Location: Southwestern coast in central Japan (Tottori Prefecture)
• Climate: annual average 14.4℃, precipitation 2,018㎜
• Educational institutes: elementary schools (7), middle schools (3), high schools (3)
• Industrial structure : Primary 7.6%, secondary 32.6%, tertiary 59.8%
• No. of employees: 193
• Councilmen: 18
• Features: Japan’s largest fishery city and central logistics hub for the pan-Pacific region
• Internet Address: http://www.city.sakaiminato.tottori.jp/
• Mayor: Nakamura Katsuji
• Address: 3000 Agarimichicho, Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture

Process of entering sister city relations

• Feb 28, '00: MOU on accommodating Sokcho fisheries administration trainees
• Apr 9, ‘02: Signed MOU for mutually dispatching employees of both cities

Hunchun

Status of sister city

• Location: Downstream of Tumen River in southeastern part of Jilin, China
• Population: 225,857 (Ethnic Korean 42.8%)
• Climate: annual average temperature 5.65℃, precipitation 550㎜
• Opened Sokcho economic trading office in Hunchun (Sep 21, ‘00)
• Educational institutes: middle schools (19), elementary schools (30)
• Major resources: mining (coal), hydro resources, local specialties (ginseng, deer antlers, honey, pine mushroom, black mushroom, etc.)
• Internet address: http://www.chinacity.net/zgcs/jilin/yanbian/huichun
• Mayor: Jin Chunshan
• Address: China Hunchunshi People’s Government No. 481, Longyuan Street, Hunchunshi, Jilin
• Sister cities: Pohang; Laseon, North Korea; Sakaiminato, Japan

Process of entering sister city relations

• May '91: Review on feasibility of opening Sokcho ⇔ Hunchun sea route
• Mar '92: Exchanged MOU on opening sea route between Sokcho and Hunchun together with the People’s Government of Hunchun (Mayor: Kim Min-woong) of Jilin, China and the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture’s tourism department
• Feb 17, '93: Agreement of governments of both nations to open sea routes during Korea-Japan meetings
• Mar '93: People’s Government of Hunchun selected as China’s side
• Apr 7, '93: Applied for selection as Korea’s side for opening sea route to the port authority ⇒ Northeast Ferry
• Apr 16, '93: Project for opening passenger ships between Sokcho and Hunchun approved (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)
• Jun 19, '93: Notified plans to use Russia’s Zarvino Port for the Sokcho⇔Hunchun sea route
• Aug 22, '94: Signed basic agreement for pursuing mutual cooperation (Hunchun)
• May 15, '96: Signed MOU on exchange and training of agricultural technicians
• '2009.6.24: Entered sisterhood relations (Hunchun)

Nyuzen

Status of sister city

• Location: East Sea coast in central Japan (Toyama Prefecture)
• Climate: average temperature 14℃, precipitation 2,577㎜
• Features
• Rich in agriculture, fisheries and natural parks
• Highly developed industries related to deep sea water
• Internet Address: http://www.town.nyuzen.toyama.jp/

Process of entering sister city relations

• Feb 13, '96: Yoshino Katsuo, a director of the Nyuzen Korea-Japan Friendship Association visited Sokcho and proposed exchange
• Oct 3, '96: Signed MOU to pursue exchange and cooperation (Seorak Park Hotel)

Khasansky

Status of sister city

• Location: Primorsky, Russia (bordering North Korea and China)
• Climate: average temperature 12℃, precipitation 600-900㎜
• Features
• Seaweeds, marine products, mineral resources
• Expected to act as a logistics base when transcontinental railway (TRS) opens between Korea and Siberia
• Internet Address: none

Process of entering sister city relations

• Feb 9, '96: Vice-president of Moscow University visited Sokcho with Dr. Martchenko and 5 others and proposed exchange
• Apr 29, '96: Invited Pastor Kang Tae-yong, secretary general of the Russian Orthodox Church, to hold the ‘Russia Primorsky trends and investment seminar’
• Jul 16 – Jul 20, '96: Sokcho delegation visited Khasansky
• Jul 19, '96: Signed basic agreement for pursuing exchange and cooperation (Khasansky)