Sister Cities of Hampton

Happy 50th Happy 50th

Celebrating Anyang, South Korea’s 50th Anniversary

City of Hampton’s Mayor Donnie Tuck, Councilman Steve Brown, City Manager Mary Bunting, Economic Development staff, Sister Cities of Hampton Board members and Hampton University Terpsichorean dancers proudly participated in the 50th anniversary celebration of our sister city Anyang, South Korea.

Hampton Sister City’s President Dianne Foster Peterson expressed the importance of Hampton being Anyang’s Charter Sister City, established on December 9, 1987. “We honor our strong relationship with Anyang as we unite our cultures and celebrate our rich history together.”

To kick-off the event, the Hampton delegation was warmly greeted by Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho, Anyang Council members and city staff. A visit to the Anyang Cultural Center introduced Korean etiquette and traditional Korean dress (Hanbok) which submersed us in the culture.

A Wealth of Sharing

The highlight of the anniversary celebration was the “International Symposium for Sustainable Growth” which provided a look at the innovations and accomplishments of Anyang and each of their sister cities. The City of Hampton shared its distinguished designation as the 2023 All-America City for the third year in a row.

A tour of Anyang’s Smart City Integration Center displayed technologies which link and utilize information systems for crime prevention, disaster prevention and traffic. Additionally, a visit to the start-up company LetinAR, provided insight into innovation in augmented reality.

Our Celebration Gallery of Events

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Two Crowning Events

In addition to economic, cultural, and educational opportunities, the delegation also enjoyed the FC Anyang soccer team’s first game of the season. A photo opportunity captured the mayors kicking the soccer ball together while wearing FC Anyang team jerseys with their names embellished on the back.

Culminating the visit was the Hampton University (HU) Terpsichorean dancers’ performance at the “City of Dance” 50th Anniversary opening ceremony. HU choreographer Crystal Neal and dancers Carson Moore, Bria Andrews and Amaya Short delighted the crowd with their performances.

An Invitation from Chairperson
Dr. Sean (Sang-Hyon) Chu

Participating in various activities of Sister Cities of Hampton has been great fun for me. Planning community events to celebrate the culture of a sister city, hosting visitors from a sister city, or taking a trip to visit a sister city has truly been an honor. All of these wonderful activities require a huge effort from dedicated volunteers. And that's why we need YOU!

If you have an interest in the culture, history or people of Korea, join Sister Cities of Hampton and volunteer to serve on the Anyang Coordinating Committee. I can assure you that it will be a very rewarding experience.

Resources & Facts

Anyang Delegation Visit Media Release

The city of Anyang, just 13 miles south of Seoul, the capital city of South Korea—has been a sister city of Hampton since December 9, 1989. Hampton has the distinct honor of being Anyang’s first sister city.