Roanoke City, Virginia, USA
Roanoke City, Virginia, USA
Signed sisterhood with Roanoke City,
Virginia on January 21, 1965.
- City name Roanoke City, Virginia, USA
- Location 169 miles West from Richmond, capital of Virginia.
- Population 97,032
- Area 111.1㎢,
- Specialty It is located in 274km West from the capital of Virginia, Richmond, and at the middle of New York and Atalanta. It is the center of transportation, finance, industry of Southwestern Virginia, and center of cotton, synthetic fiber and fiber industry.
- Manager Head of Roanoke-Wonju sisterhood commission Brian Counihan
- Telephone (540) 330-0203
Roanoke is located in southwest Virginia near the eastern coast of the USA and to the southwest is the Blue Ridge Mountain and Virginia Alleghany Plateau. It is the center of transportation and commerce with a high concentration of businesses. It boasts the second highest employment rate in Virginia, which has become the main factor for growth of Roanoke. Geopolitically, it is an important city where 2/3 of the entire US population can be reached within a 500 mile radius.
Roanoke Valley includes Roanoke County, Salem and Vintond county, while it has an equal distance to New York and Atlanta. It is 230 miles southwest of Washington DC and 250 miles west of Hamton Roads Port. 60% of the US population could be reached in about an hour from here. It takes 45 minute on plane and 4 hours on bus to Washington DC, and 3 hours 30 minutes to Richmond. It is also home to the headquarters of Norfork and Western Railway, which has 5 major rail routes for cargo transport.
History of sisterhood
- 1957
- Dr. Kim Young Woo proposed sisterhood to Roanoke, brought in the item to Roanoke city council
- 1958
- Dr. Kim Young Woo came back to Korea and worked at Wonju Christian Hospital as chief of surgery
- 1964
- Roanoke city council, proclaimed Wonju as sister city
- 1965
- Wonju has decided sisterhood with Roanoke and organized sister city commission
- 1st Roanoke day celebration
- Roanoke mayor proposed sending Wonju college students to study abroad
- 1966
- Miss Kim Dae Hoon from Wonju Christian Hospital trained at Roanoke Valley Community Hospital
- Selected Roanoke international student(Park Gyu Hoon)
- Hosted 1st Roanoke day event
- 1967
- Sunhwa children's dance team visited Roanoke for goodwill performance
- Wonju JC - Roanoke signed sisterhood agreement
- Rev. Camplong and officer from USAFK participated “Roanoke day” celebration event
- 1968
- Celebration event for “Roanoke day”
- Sent Korean traditional tourist guide and held sisterhood event for “Roanoke day”
- 1968
- USAKR privates participated in “Roanoke day” event
- Dr. Kim Young Woo visited Roanoke
- Officer couple from US Embassy to Korea participated in “Roanoke day”event in place of ambassador
- Roanoke sisterhood commissioner visited Wonju to negotiate program
- Displayed Wonju specialty at Roanoke civil library
- 1971
- Sisterhood agreement event from both cities
- Chief of Wonju Christian Hospital Dr. Kim Young Woo's family migrated to Roanoke, worked as hospital staff.
- 1972
- Dr. Roth went back to USA after the end of working period at Wonju Christian Hospital
- 1973
- Sisterhood agreement celebration event in Wonju
- Washington DC Korean Ambassador do USA participated in Roanoke sisterhood celebration event
- 1976
- Mayor Jeong GiHun visited Roanoke for Mayor Taylor's invitation for 200th anniversary of USA's independence
- Unveiled Korea traditional mural at Roanoke community center
- 1977
- Tapoli sisterhood civic group(6 families 11people) stayed at Wonju for 9 days
- 1978
- 5 people from Roanoke participated in "Roanoke day" celebration event
- 1979
- Sent Gangwon-do nature introduction brochure to Mayor of Roanoke(3 brochures in Korean and English each)
- 1980
- Sent Gangwon-do nature introduction brochure to Mayor of Roanoke(3 brochures in Korean and English each)
- 1981
- Roanoke high school teacher(age 58) donated 300 dollars for Wonju's underprivileged student
- 1982
- Mayor Sung Gi Bang visited Roanoke under Mayor Taylor's invitation to celebrate 100th anniversary of Korea-US diplomatic tie establishment
- 3 members of Wonju Chamber of commerce and industry visited Roanoke Chamber of commerce and industry to celebrate 100th anniversary of Korea-US diplomatic tie establishment
- Roanoke hosted “Wonju day” celebration event and Thanksgiving day
- Named 220 highway of Roanoke “Wonjuro” and displayed “Wonju-si exhibition” at Roanoke city hall main hall
- 1983
- Roanoke mayor and 3 people visited Wonju
- Mayor Taylor planted nut pine in front of Wonju city hall
- Established “Tower of friendship” at Wonju city hall square and signed by Mayor Park Jin Won and Taylor
- Female teacher Bailey from Roanoke and member of sisterhood commission each donated $700, $200, total $900.
- 1984
- Roanoke ITT, educated 12 Koran engineers regarding “essence of Science”
- 1985
- Female teacher Bailey from Roanoke donated $400 for scholarship
- Mayor Taylor invited Wonju mayor to Thanksgiving day event
※ Donated $300 for flood damage donation during the visit
- 1986
- Mayor Jo Sung Un, visited Roanoke and agreed on “young generation exchange” with Mayor Taylor
- Female teacher Bailey from Roanoke donated $600 for scholarship
- 5 families from sisterhood commission (21 people) visited Wonju.
- 1989
- Founded Wonju private sisterhood commission, elected Moon Chang Mo as the head commissioner, and 70 commissioners to enact regulation
- Celebrated 25th anniversary of sisterhood
- 6 Roanoke sisterhood commissioners visited Wonju
- Broadcasted Korean Pungmul through Roanoke WSLS-TV(NBC)
- Roanoke invited Mayor Kim Jae Young for 25th anniversary of sisterhood event and Thanksgiving day event(total 12 people)
- Wonju MBC visited Roanoke and covered 25th anniversary of sisterhood (50minutes)
- Roanoke donated $1700 to Wonju for computer purchase
- Mayor Kim Jae Young proposed and conducted <public officer exchange working system> with Roanoke
- 1990
- Superintendent of education Kim Hong Ryoel and 11 middle school students visited Roanoke for “Young generation exchange”
- Held 1st general assembly of Wonju private sisterhood (commission) and decided to donate $500 scholarship and raise 100 million fund
- Wonju superintendent of education, teacher and 9 students visited Roanoke (11 people)
- Wonju sisterhood donated $500 to Roanoke as student scholarship
- Superintendent Kim Hong Ryeol invited Roanoke elementary superintendent, 3 people explored Wonju educational program
- 1991
- Held 2nd general assembly of Wonju private sisterhood and donated 500$ to Roanoke for scholarship
- Junior college attached to Sangji university- signed sisterhood agreement with VWCC.
- 5 members of Wonju JC participated to 50th anniversary of general assembly of Roanoke JC, Roanoke announced May 11th as Wonju JC day
- Mayor Taylor sent new year's message to Wonju citizen : published on Gangwon Daily News on January 1, 1991.
- Virginia Governor's advisory, visited Wonju to negotiate trade waste disposal
- 6 Roanoke high school students, visited Wonju under principle Kim Hong Ryoel's invitation
- Mayor Taylor and 11 delegates visited Wonju negotiate exchange condition and friendship improvement
- 1993
- Sangji junior college professor Lee Byeong Ryong worked at VWCC for 6 months as exchange professor
- Landscaping and English professor of VWCC worked at Sangji junior college for 3 months as exchange professor
- Retirement of Mayor Taylor, Mayor Bauer too office
- Art professor from VWCC worked at Sangji junior college for 3 months as exchange professor, held exhibition
- Dean of Roanoke university visited Sangji university to inspect Wonju educational system and to negotiate exchange student program.
- Sangji junior college industrial design professor worked at sisterhood college for 8 months and exchange professor
- Reorganized private commission, re-elected Moon Chang Mo as 2nd head commissioner, composed of 70 members
- 1994
- Sangji university-Roanoke College signed sisterhood agreement
- Sangji junior college tourism interpretation professor worked at VWCC for 3months as exchange professor
- Dr. Kim Young Woo retired from community hospital
- 1995
- Elected Lee Jong Il as 3rd chief of private international sisterhood commission
- Signed sisterhood agreement between Wonju high school - Patrick Henry high school, 14 students and teachers
- Signed sisterhood agreement between Sangji university and Roanoke College
- VWCC industrial design professor, worked at Sangji junior college for 17 days
- Kim Ki Yeol elected as 1st integrated mayor by popular vote, received congratulatory message from Mayor of Roanoke
- Mayor Bauers invited Mayor Kim for 30th anniversary of sisterhood
- Mayor Kim as leader, 20 delegates visited Roanoke to celebrate 30th anniversary of sisterhood.
- [Discussed topic between Mayor Kim and Bauers]
- Scholarship assistance for $2,500 per year to Roanoke college students
- Mutual exchange of culture- art group
- Permanent sales installment and increased export of Wonju specialty in Roanoke
- Expanded exchange between student and private organization
- 1996
- Roanoke chemistry professor worked at Sangji university as exchange professor for 1 month
- Mayor Bauers was reelected.
- Wonju candle foundation decided to support 2 million won annually to Roanoke university students
- Installed Roanoke museum to Dangye-dong youth training center
- Published <Roanoke> (compiled by Choi Seung Ho) about 30 year history of sisterhood
- Sangji university chemistry professor worked at Roanoke college as exchange professor for 1 month
- 1997
- 2 of Wonju student folklore performance team members visited
- 1998
- 12 Wonju delegates visited Roanok and agreed the exchange expansion plan.
- 1999
- 13 Roanoke delegates participated in Tourism expo and Chiak festival
- 2000
- 2 Sangji university professors went to Roanoke college for duty exchange
- 1 Roanoke college professor went to Sangji university for duty exchange
- 2001
- 5 delegates including vice mayor of Wonju visited Roanoke for friendship promotion
- 2002
- 9 delegates from Roanoke visited World peace fanfare and International Walking Competition
- 2004
- 8 delegates from Wonju visited Roanoke to negotiate student language training plan and participated 40th anniversary of Wonju-Roanoke sisterhood banquet
- Participated in Local colors festival, negotiated private exchange plan
- 8 delegates from Roanoke visited Wonju to participate signing ceremony for student language training agreement
- Designated Roanoke road and unveiled landmark stone for Roanoke road
- 2005
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 12 students, home-stay)
- 2 Roanoke commissioners participated in Wonju city 50th anniversary event
- 2006
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students(9 students)
- 2007
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 12 students, home-stay)
- Conducted Wonju Cultural experience training for Roanoke students (4 commissioners, 7 students)
- 8 International sisterhood commissioners visited Roanoke, organized regular visit and exchange business with sisterhood city
- 4 delegates from Roanoke participated in building completion ceremony of new Wonju-si government office
- 2008
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 11 students, home-stay)
- Wonju delegates made formal visit to Roanoke(Mayor and 4 public officers, 4 sisterhood commissioners)
- Conducted Wonju Cultural experience training for Roanoke students (1 teacher, 7 students, home-stay)
- Invited by Roanoke for delegates to participate the opening of art gallery (3 people including vice mayor and painters)
- 2009
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 12 students, 1 public officer)
- Roanoke delegate made friendship visitation to Wonju (8 people)
- Negotiated sisterhood agreement between Virginia Tech Carillion College of Medicine ⇔ Yonsei university Wonju College of Medicine
- 2010
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 12 students, 1 public officer)
- Conducted Wonju Cultural experience training for Roanoke students (1 teacher, 5 students)
- Signed sisterhood agreement between Virginia Tech Carillion College of Medicine ⇔ Yonsei university Wonju College of Medicine
- Invited Roanoke Arts Association (1 potter, 1 public officer)
- 2011
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 12 students, 1 public officer)
- Wonju delegates visited Roanoke (Mayor Won Chang Muk and other 5- including 2 city council members)
- Participated the Local Colors Festival and friendship visit
- 2012
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 9 students, 1 public officer)
- 2013
- 16 Wonju delegates and Wonju Maeji Nongak Association members visited Roanoke.
- 2014
- Interview record of Former Chief of Wonju Christian Hospital Dr. Kim Young Woo and foreign medical missionary Dr.Roth
- Wonju delegated visited Roanoke to participate the 50th anniversary of sisterhood celebration event (13 including mayor)
- 2015
- Conducted Wonju Cultural experience training for Roanoke students (3 teacher, 7 students)
- Wonju delegated visited Roanoke to participate the 50th anniversary of sisterhood celebration event (10)
- 2016
- Conducted language training program for Wonju middle school students (1 teacher, 12 students, 2 public officers)
- Wonju Sister City Committee donated 6 different books to Roanoke Central Library. (July)
- 2017
- Roanoke Sister City Committee donated 11 different books to Wonju Central Library. (Oct)