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August 11, 2008: Youth Leadership Program (YLP) returns from their Cultural Exchange Program in Hanam City, South Korea.

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September 3, 2008: Monthly meeting at City Hall - 11:30 a.m.

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Hanam City, South Korea

Korean Gate and Garden

Hanam City, South Korea – Liaison Bob Callans

Little Rock’s Sister City of Hanam City, South Korea was formalized on May 19, 1992, by Little Rock Mayor Sharon Priest and the Little Rock City Board. Hanam City is the second oldest Sister City relationship in Little Rock.

The relationship between Hanam City and Little Rock started because of Grand Master H.U. Lee of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) was interested in forming a relationship between the two cities. H.U. Lee founded the ATA and located its headquarters in Little Rock.

Mr. Lim, Bob Callans, and Mr. Seo

Hanam City became a city on January 1, 1989, and has a history going back to 6 B.C. Hanam City is geographically located in the middle east of the Seoul metropolitan area with a population of about 140,000 people. The city is located near Seoul’s vast transportation network connecting to all directions of the Korean nation. It is a clean city with a beautiful natural environment and cultural heritage.

The government of Hanam City is an open administration together with the citizens. It is based on a clear and customer oriented system in building a clean future for the city guaranteeing a high quality of life. Hanam City promotes itself as, “A Green City within Nature, Fresh Nature within a City.” The city has a cultural heritage full of ancestral spirits. Hanam City being the center of history from the ancient times, it is a city where nature and tradition harmonize, and also is a place where the breath of their ancestors can be felt.

Hanam City provides its citizens with cultural festivals, public sports, social welfare, the arts, education for the 21st century, healthcare, balanced urban development with agriculture and development of housing for the future. The relationship with Little Rock shows its efforts with international exchanges.

Areas that Hanam City and Little Rock are working:

• Employing Little Rock instructors to teach English for one year in Hanam City.
• A city-staff-exchange program.
• Funding of a Korean War Veterans Memorial in MacArthur Park, which is scheduled to be dedicated June 25, 2007.
• A student-exchange program.
• Researching opportunities for economic development.

Students visit Little Rock Central High School

Students visit the Old State House

Mrs. Sun Lee, widow of H.U. Lee, is head of the ATA Foundation and has started building a traditional Korean Gate and Memorial Garden on the east side of the Little Rock Convention Center at the Main Street bridge in downtown Little Rock. This gate and garden will honor Grand Master H.U. Lee and show the ATA's appreciation for Little Rock's support over the years. The Korean Gate and Garden dedication took place at 10:30am on Friday, June 22nd, 2007, on the East side of the Convention Center.