Chuncheon City to Realize Future City Designed in Europe... Benchmarking Switzerland and Italy

Chuncheon City Completes Benchmarking in Switzerland and Italy
Secures Solutions for RE100 and Stay-Type Tourism
Sister City Agreement with Parma, Italy Marks Fruitful Exchange
Future Vision Finalized... "Tangible Changes for Citizens to Begin"

The vision for the future of Chuncheon has been vividly outlined in Europe.

Yook Donghan, Mayor of Chuncheon, Visits Dam Site with Delegation. Photo by Chuncheon City

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province, led by Mayor Yook Donghan, successfully completed a 9-day benchmarking visit to Switzerland and Italy, producing a concrete blueprint to turn Chuncheon’s future vision into reality. From September 20 to 28, Mayor Yook Donghan and the Chuncheon City delegation visited institutions in Switzerland and Italy to focus on exploring ways to realize a “sustainable model that integrates renewable energy production with tourism, culture, and gastronomy.”

The innovative future of the Soyang River Dam was discovered at Switzerland’s Grande Dixence Dam. As the seventh tallest dam in the world, responsible for 20% of Switzerland’s total electricity supply, it seamlessly combines energy production with tourism through internal tours, cable cars, hiking trails, and zip lines.

This presented an innovative turning point for the ongoing Soyang River Dam tourism infrastructure project. The project, which will utilize the dam area as a tourism resource in conjunction with the opening of the Soyang Lake Trail, will be expanded into an eco-friendly energy experience space enjoyed by both citizens and tourists.

The “Siram Energy Campus Project” at the University of Parma in Italy provided a practical solution for Chuncheon’s RE100 implementation. The Chuncheon delegation met with Gianluca Borghi, Chair of the Sustainability and Energy Committee of the Parma City Council, to discuss a private investment-based EPC (Energy Performance Contract) model and a performance-sharing structure. This model has achieved a 20% reduction in energy consumption and an annual reduction of 2,500 tons of CO₂ emissions.

This approach can be directly applied to Chuncheon’s projects, such as the water source heat energy cluster, AI data center, and RE100 industrial complex, offering a realistic alternative that simultaneously attracts private investment and achieves sustainable energy transition.

Meeting with Gianluca Borghi, Parma City Councilor. Provided by Chuncheon City

The stay-type tourism model observed in Como, Italy, provided a clear solution to overcoming Chuncheon’s accommodation infrastructure limitations. The operational model at Villa del Grumello on the shores of Lake Como, which combines gardens, cultural assets, and waterfront scenery, as well as the energy self-sufficiency model at Zermatt Julen Hotel, which uses biogas generated from food waste and livestock manure, are exemplary cases of linking renewable energy with tourism.

Chuncheon plans to benchmark these models to develop the Banghari tourism site, targeted for completion by 2035, as a leading destination that connects eco-friendly energy with waterfront tourism resources. Centered around a dock directly linking Nami Island and Chuncheon, the complex will feature a 515-space parking lot, 15 pension-style pool villas, and 4,900 square meters of commercial facilities, aiming to attract 760,000 visitors annually as a multi-purpose tourism complex.

On September 25, a sister city agreement was signed with Mayor Michele Guerra at Parma City Hall in Italy. This is Chuncheon’s first such agreement with a European city, marking a turning point that expands Chuncheon’s international exchanges-which had previously focused on Asia and North America-into Europe.

This achievement is the result of consistent cooperation, including the annual “Ciao! Italia” event, which has become Chuncheon’s signature festival since 2023, as well as exchanges between Gangwon Life Science High School and ALMA International Culinary School.

Notably, during this visit, Korean students enrolled at the Parma National Conservatory performed a welcome concert for the Chuncheon delegation, adding significance to the sister city agreement. The delegation also attended a performance of Otello at the world’s only Verdi Festival, further deepening the friendship between the two cities through cultural exchange.

Chuncheon City-Parma Sister City Agreement Ceremony. Photo by Chuncheon City

Going forward, Chuncheon plans to actively utilize its multifaceted exchanges with Parma to develop a Chuncheon-style cultural and gastronomic tourism model.

The results of this benchmarking trip will be implemented as concrete projects starting next year. The energy-tourism convergence model will be incorporated into the Soyang River Dam tourism infrastructure project, and all permits for the Banghari tourism site are scheduled to be completed by next year. Exchanges with Parma will also be expanded beyond culture to include the food industry, sports, and private sector cooperation.

Mayor Yook Donghan stated, “The achievements in Europe mark the starting point for opening Chuncheon’s future. Now that Chuncheon’s tourism, culture, industry, and education stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe’s leading cities, I am committed to delivering tangible results that our citizens can truly experience.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.