Chuncheon City Opens a New Chapter in European Exchange with Parma, Italy

Chuncheon and Parma Join Hands for Future Cooperation
Expanding Collaboration Across Culture, Education, and Energy
Comprehensive Exchanges in Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Education
Launching the 'Chuncheon-Style Global Model'
Visiting the National Conservatory to Foster Cultural and Artistic Exchange
Promoting Collaboration for 'Ciao! Italia'
Observing DOP Certification at Prosciutto Factory
Developing the Chuncheon-Style Gastronomic Tourism Model

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province has opened a new chapter in European exchanges.

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, met with Michele Guerra, mayor of Parma, Italy, on the 25th local time at Parma City Hall to sign a sister city agreement. Provided by Chuncheon City

On the 25th local time, Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, met with Michele Guerra, mayor of Parma, Italy, at Parma City Hall and signed a sister city agreement. This is Chuncheon's first sister city agreement with a European city. Chuncheon plans to expand exchanges with Parma, a city renowned worldwide for its gastronomy, in various fields including culture, education, cuisine, and the arts.

This agreement marks a turning point, expanding Chuncheon's international exchanges, which had previously focused on Asia and North America, to include Europe. Through exchanges with Parma, the city aims to develop the 'Chuncheon-style global gastronomic tourism model' and continue international cooperation centered on youth and culture.

Under the agreement, the two cities will: △In the field of culture and the arts, expand exchanges between citizens and artists by mutually inviting the Chuncheon International Mime Festival and the Parma Verdi Festival, and promote joint performances and exhibitions by art organizations from both cities. △In the field of universities and youth, support student exchanges and joint research between Kangwon National University and the University of Parma, and create a future-oriented cooperation model through exchanges among youth startups. △In the culinary field, establish a global gastronomic tourism network by holding joint culinary events and brand promotions featuring Chuncheon Dakgalbi and Makguksu, as well as Parma Prosciutto and cheese. Additionally, △In the field of sustainable cities, discuss practical projects such as joint research on carbon neutrality and smart cities by linking the University of Parma's Smart Campus and RE100 projects with Chuncheon's Water-Cooled Energy Cluster and AI Data Center policies.

Chuncheon and Parma had already expressed their intention to become sister cities in 2023, and Chuncheon has held the "Ciao! Italia" cultural event annually since then. The two cities have also continued exchanges, such as running a program between Alma International Culinary School in Parma and Gangwon Life Science High School. Finally, in September 2025, with the completion of administrative procedures for approval from the Italian central government, the agreement was officially signed.

Mayor Yook Donghan stated, "Today's agreement is not just a signature, but a starting point for a future that young people will write themselves," adding, "Now that Chuncheon's culture, cuisine, and education stand shoulder to shoulder with a leading European city, we will ensure that tangible results are delivered for our citizens."

Mayor Yuk Donghan and the Chuncheon City delegation are taking a commemorative photo after visiting the Parma National Music Conservatory. Provided by Chuncheon City

Michele Guerra, mayor of Parma, said, "Both Chuncheon and Parma consider gastronomy, culture, and youth exchanges as core resources for urban development. I hope this agreement will serve as an opportunity for the two cities to share experiences and broaden the scope of cooperation."

Meanwhile, the official luncheon held immediately after the signing ceremony served as a celebration of the exchange between the two cities.

During the subsequent visit to the Parma National Music Conservatory and music school, the parties discussed cultural and artistic exchanges such as performances for next year's "Ciao! Italia" opening ceremony and met with Korean students studying locally to offer encouragement. On this occasion, students from the conservatory performed a welcome concert for the Chuncheon delegation, further highlighting the significance of the sister city relationship. This performance was a meaningful moment that expressed the friendship between the two cities through music and demonstrated the potential for expanded cultural and artistic exchanges in the future.

The itinerary continued with a visit to a Parma Prosciutto factory. The delegation observed the production process and DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) certification management system, and compared and benchmarked Chuncheon's agricultural specialty branding policies. The city plans to actively incorporate the findings from this field study into the development of its own 'Chuncheon-style gastronomic tourism' model.

This sister city agreement between Chuncheon and Parma serves as a starting point for a new chapter that connects the past and present of both cities and will be written together by youth and future generations.

A Chuncheon City official stated, "This sister city agreement is a meaningful starting point for Chuncheon to expand exchanges beyond Asia and North America to Europe. We will strive to achieve tangible results in various fields such as culture, gastronomy, education, and energy that citizens can truly experience."