Chuncheon and Wuxi Sign Sister City Agreement Through Taekwondo...A Symbol of Taekwondo Exchange

Mayor Yook Donghan Signs Agreement at Wuxi City Hall
WT Headquarters in Chuncheon, WT Center in Wuxi: A Symbol of Taekwondo Exchange
Exploring Cooperation in Future Fields such as Smart Cities and the Bio Industry

On October 22, Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province signed a sister city cooperation agreement with Wuxi City in Jiangsu Province, China, marking the beginning of a new era of exchange.

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, signed a sister city cooperation agreement with Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China, on the 22nd. Provided by Chuncheon City

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, and the city delegation signed the agreement with Mayor Zhang Feng of Wuxi and about 20 representatives from both cities at Wuxi City Hall at 9 a.m. local time on the 22nd.

The connection between Chuncheon and Wuxi for this sister city cooperation agreement is "taekwondo." Chuncheon is known as the "World Taekwondo Capital" for hosting the headquarters of World Taekwondo (WT), while Wuxi is recognized as the "Asian Taekwondo Hub" for operating the WT Wuxi Center, which opened in 2018. Especially since Wuxi, a core city in Jiangsu Province with a population of over 7.5 million, and Chuncheon are now linked through WT, this agreement holds significant symbolic meaning.

The agreement was prompted by a proposal from World Taekwondo President Choue Chungwon during a reception for guests at the WT Grand Slam held in Wuxi in December last year. Practical discussions followed, centered around World Taekwondo, and have now culminated in this agreement.

The agreement includes provisions for fostering global taekwondo talent, promoting cultural and tourism exchanges, and establishing a regular cooperation system between WT hub cities. The two cities plan to strengthen exchanges in various fields based on these points.

Mayor Yook Donghan stated, "Chuncheon and Wuxi are both cities that love taekwondo, are preparing for future industries, and are innovating for their citizens. Moving forward, we will expand the scope of international city diplomacy through the WT hub city network and work together to create a sustainable model for exchange."

Mayor Zhang Feng of Wuxi said, "With this agreement, I hope both cities will grow together in diverse fields, including culture and industry, beyond just taekwondo."

After the signing ceremony, the Chuncheon delegation had lunch with World Taekwondo President Choue Chungwon. During the meal, they celebrated the establishment of the sister city relationship and discussed ways to expand cultural and sports exchanges through taekwondo.

World Taekwondo President Choue Chungwon remarked, "Chuncheon and Wuxi are important partner cities for World Taekwondo. This agreement is a model case of global solidarity through taekwondo, and WT will actively support the continued cooperation between the two cities."

Earlier in the morning, the Chuncheon delegation visited the Wuxi City Urban Operation Planning Center, where they observed the integrated city management system and smart city operation cases based on digital technology.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Huishan Life Science Industrial Park to examine the operation of the innovation platform where research institutes and bio companies are clustered. They explored the potential for strategic cooperation in areas such as AI drug development, precision medicine, and data-based healthcare. The delegation also visited Huishan Ancient Town, where traditional houses and cultural heritage from the Ming and Qing dynasties are preserved.